The Italian steel giant Danieli Group and the Ukraine steelmaker Metinvest have recently signed the agreement that establishes the joint management of Piombino steel plant, a technologically advanced hub for the production of green steel.
The new facility, which will serve as an industrial bridge between the two countries, will have an annual production capacity of 2.7 million tons. Based on the electric-arc furnace technology, it will use recycled materials such as scrap metal, pig iron, and direct reduced iron (DRI) sourced from Metinvest’s operations in Ukraine. There will also be a cold steel processing and assistance center, as well as auxiliary structures and equipment. Additionally, the two companies signed a contract for the development of the basic engineering for the Piombino plant.
The project is intended to serve as a model for the future modernization of Metinvest’s plants in Zaporizhzhia and Kamianske. As stated by the Minister of Enterprise and Made in Italy, Adolfo Urso, “the signing of the shareholder agreement marks a decisive step for the relaunch of the steel hub in Piombino”, while strengthening “the strategic cooperation between Italy and Ukraine”. Even Danieli Group CEO, Giacomo Mareschi Danieli, stressed that “this project is not only an investment in innovation and competitiveness, but also a bridge between the Italian and Ukrainian steel industries”. “Danieli – he added – is committed to developing technological solutions that can reshape the future of steel, and the partnership with Metinvest is a clear example of how international collaboration can generate value for the entire sector. This plant will not only be a symbol of industrial progress, but also a key element in modernizing steel production in Italy and Europe”.
According to Metinvest CEO, Yuriy Ryzhenkov, the agreement will also accelerate Ukraine’s integration into the EU.