Italy Court Orders Retrial in Deadly Pollution Case Tied to Former Ilva Steel Plant

An Italian appeals court has overturned a 2021 verdict that convicted 37 individuals and three companies for pollution linked to the former Ilva steelworks. The court ordered a retrial, according to the ANSA news agency.

The Ilva plant, once Europe's largest steel producer, has been at the center of legal battles for over a decade. It is accused of releasing harmful emissions, which allegedly caused a spike in cancer cases in Taranto.

Friday's decision represents a significant setback for the prosecution and the plaintiffs, as restarting the trial from the beginning raises the possibility that some charges could be dismissed due to the statute of limitations.

The appeals court accepted the defense's argument that the case should be relocated to another city, as local judges and jurors in Taranto were considered partial, being potential victims of the environmental crisis themselves.

In the original 2021 ruling, former Ilva owners, Fabio and Nicola Riva, were sentenced to 22 and 20 years in prison, respectively. Additionally, Nichi Vendola, the former head of the Puglia region, received a 3.5-year sentence.

The future of Acciaierie d'Italia (ADI), the rebranded Ilva, presents a complex challenge for Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's administration, as it searches for an industrial partner to revitalize the company. Several international and domestic firms, including India's Vulcan Green Steel and Ukraine's Metinvest, have shown interest in taking over the steelworks, which remains under government-led special administration.