Sider Alloys, government in the field to revive the Sulcis primary aluminium plant

The race against time has already begun. With one objective: to restart as soon as possible the Portovesme primary aluminium production plant that Sider Alloys took over seven years ago from Alcoa. A clear concept that was reiterated during the last meeting at the Ministry of Enterprise and Made in Italy, convened precisely to take stock of the status of the dispute concerning the restart of the primary aluminium plant. The first in Italy for the production of material through the electrolysis process.

"The re-launch of Sider Alloys is important for national aluminium production, also in view of the changed geopolitical conditions, and certainly for the production and employment hub of Sulcis and Sardinia as a whole," said Minister Adolfo Urso. "For this reason, together with the company and Invitalia, we will examine all possible actions to be taken, with the aim of restoring full production capacity to the site. The objective, as reiterated by the government representative, is to 'reach, in a few months, a turning point that will allow us to start an overall discussion table for the area, with an effective industrial strategy'. Slowing down the start of the relaunch phase, which envisages the revamping of the electrolysis hall, are the procedures relating to the release of a EUR 320 million loan with a Sace guarantee. At present, the foundry is operating in the factory, but the entire electrolysis hall is to be revamped. The revamping of the factory, as well as the 'expiry of Invitalia's terms of stay', in addition to the company's investment, financial, and employment plans, and 'the possibility of intervention by a pool of banks to support the project' were at the centre of the meeting. In recent days, there has also been the first technical mission of a player in the aluminium sector, 'which,' it was reiterated by Mimit, 'on several occasions had expressed interest in contributing to the investment and to the site's reindustrialisation process.

"It is essential to acquire all the necessary elements to understand which direction Sider Alloys should take," commented Undersecretary Fausta Bergamotto, "Mimit is fully committed to finding a solid and sustainable solution. We are working with determination, because we do not want to waste time: the situation in Sulcis is significant and complex, and goes beyond the case of Sider Alloys alone. We intend to conduct this process with the utmost transparency, providing updates that are as clear and defined as possible'.

Emanuele Cani, Regional Councillor for Industry, agrees: 'For us, the priority is to restart production and bring the workers back to the factory, and not only because it is the relaunch of an economic activity located in the territory of the Region of Sardinia, but because it serves the country, in a geopolitical context that has changed and it is therefore necessary to produce raw materials within the national territory for the purposes of industrial production recovery.

The re-launch plan for the plant, which until the 2012 shutdown produced 155,000 tonnes of primary aluminium for ingots and billets, ensuring a turnover of more than 500 million a year and employment for 450 employees, according to what was announced during the takeover phases, envisages production of around 145,000 tonnes of primary aluminium and wire rod capable of 30% of the domestic market.