ROME - The Finnish multinational Outokumpu, which keeps in hands the fate of the Terni steelworks (3000 direct employees, more than 1000 in ancillary) backtracks assumption, judged harmful in Italy, of the so-called "stew" or the unpacking of the Terni site with the move of the best departments in other parts of Europe and the sale of the rest of the site, loosing in this case much of its potential in terms of quality and competitiveness.

The Ministry of Economic Development, after Tuesday’s meeting between the minister Corrado Passera and CEO of Outokumpu Mika Seitovirta, has announced yesterday 17.10 that the corporation is now "ready to accept the proposal to include in the sale also the unit Tubificio and  production line BA2, should this prove necessary to find the best new shareholder for the company”.
The ministry’s statement says that "the Government during the meeting stressed the need to keep the integrity of all the activities currently carried out in Terni, also in the perspective of a sale. Representatives of the Finnish company said they were available to do so. "

For its part, also the Finnish multinational, in a statement, confirmed that in the meeting with the Italian government, "both parties agreed on the importance of finding the best possible owner for the activities of Terni site. The parties – says the statement - also agreed that the integrated Terni plant, in combination with business activities in the main European countries, including Germany, the largest stainless steel market in Europe, will create a sustainable and competitive player on the European market of stainless steel.”.

 Outokumpu has, in fact, taken the extra effort to integrate the Terni plants with the three commercial facilities in Germany, France, and the United Kingdom.

Seitovirta, said he was "glad" that he "had the opportunity to meet with Italian parties to discuss the sale of Terni. We are committed to working with the Italian Government in good cooperation to find the best possible solution," he said. "After the final decisions of the European Commission by 16 November 2012," he added, "Outokumpu will start the process of divestiture of Terni activities. The corrective commitment submitted to the European Commission by Outokumpu excludes Tubificio in Terni, as well as a BA production line at the plant in Terni. In accordance with the talks with the Italian government, Outokumpu is prepared to consider inclusion of these two elements in handing over the operations of Terni, if this is necessary to complete the sale. "

For their part, the Umbria region union expressed their satisfaction with the new position and the commitment by the Finns. Same satisfaction from representatives of the Umbria region and the province of Terni.

Italian Ministry press release at link:

http://www.mise.gov.it/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&viewType=1&idarea1=593&idarea2=0&idarea3=0&idarea4=0&andor=AND&sectionid=0&andorcat=AND&partebassaType=0&idareaCalendario1=0&MvediT=1&showMenu=1&showCat=1&showArchiveNewsBotton=0&idmenu=2263&id=2024923