Premier Giorgia Meloni on Thursday
denied wanting to nationalise the ex Ilva steelworks after the
government placed the struggling Taranto plant under
extraordinary administration earlier in the week.
"It is a matter that has been badly managed and for which we are
trying to find a solution," she told veteran Rai journalist
Bruno Vespa in a recorded interview for his talk show Porta a
Porta.
"Some say (the former Ilva) is doomed, but there is a market for
quality steel" and the government is working to ensure
continuity of production at the plant, added Meloni.
But "I don't want to nationalise Ilva, I think there are margins
for finding private investors who really have an interest in
making it work. There are several that have come forward," said
the premier.
On Tuesday the government put ex Ilva now called Accaierie
d'Italia (AdI) under extraordinary administration after talks
with the majority stakeholder broke down.
It also appointed Giancarlo Quaranta, an engineer with long
experience in the steel industry, as the extraordinary
commissioner to run it.
The steelworks, once Europe's biggest and which currently
employs almost 10,000 workers, has racked up over three billion
euros in debts amid an inability to pay its bills and suppliers.
According to the Italian media, Ukrainian group Metinvest is
interested in Taranto, as are Italian company Arvedi and Vulcan
Green Steel, a unit of Indian group Jindal Steel and Power.
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