Labor and industry minister Luigi di
Maio said Wednesday that the ArcelorMittal counter-proposal for
the ILVA steel plant in Taranto showed "progress from an
environmental point of view but concerning jobs it is still not
satisfactory and must be improved".
Di Maio had spoken at the Italian House of Representatives on
the situation a week before.
Di Maio had at that time said the Italo-Indian consortium's
previous plan for an environmental clean-up at the highly
polluting steel plant was "not satisfactory" and that "we need
guarantees from the company that will ensure an environmental
improvement" as well as guarantees concerning employment.
He added on Wednesday that checks were being conducted into
the regularity of the awarding of the contract for the plant
since "these are procedures that move forward at the same time,
since we must be prepared for any possibility."
ArcelorMittal issued a statement saying that it had taken
part in the bidding process in good faith and that it was
confident that it would be able to complete the transaction and
implement its industrial, social and environmental plans.
It added that it aimed to restore Ilva to the top of the
European steel industry.
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