Acciaierie d'Italia is gearing up for a significant milestone in its production journey with the planned restart of blast furnace No. 1 on October 15, 2024. This initiative will take place at the company’s Taranto steelworks, marking a pivotal moment in the firm’s efforts to restore production capabilities. The event will be graced by the presence of special commissioners from ADI, alongside Italy's Minister of Enterprises and Made in Italy, Adolfo Urso. The commencement of operations at this blast furnace is seen as a testament to the collaborative commitment of the Italian government, the special commissioners, and ADI to reinvigorate steel production at this critical facility.
The restart of blast furnace No. 1 is not merely a procedural step; it represents a key part of ADI's comprehensive restart plan for the Taranto plant. This strategy underscores the importance of enhancing production efficiency and meeting the demands of the market, particularly for hot rolled coil, which has faced supply disruptions. Reports indicate that the Taranto facility has struggled with delays in delivering hot rolled coil, impacting operations at various re-rollers and service centers, including Liberty Magona in Piombino. Currently, only blast furnace No. 4 is operational, while blast furnaces No. 5 has been inactive for several years, and Nos. 1 and 2 have halted production for a few months.
Looking ahead, ADI has set ambitious production targets for 2024, aiming to achieve an output between 1.9 million metric tons and 2.2 million metric tons of steel. However, industry insiders express skepticism about the company meeting these goals, given the current operational challenges. As part of the revitalization strategy, the restart of blast furnace No. 2 is planned for the first quarter of 2025. Furthermore, by the first quarter of 2026, ADI aims to have all three active blast furnaces, Nos. 1, 2, and 4, fully operational, with a target production of 4.5 million metric tons to 5 million metric tons in 2025.
