Photo: Metinvest.
On 20 November, Rome hosted the “Italy Supports Made in Ukraine” business forum, which became an important platform for discussing cooperation between Ukrainian and Italian businesses. Metinvest Group, one of the leaders in the Ukrainian steel industry, reaffirmed its commitment to integrating Ukrainian industry into European economic structures and supported sustainable development initiatives. The event was organised by the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine with the assistance of the Italian Ministry of Enterprise and Production, and with the participation of Metinvest Group and DTEK, Time Ukraine Israel reports, citing the press service of Metinvest.
Investment and energy cooperation
DTEK, another strategic partner of the forum, presented important steps to strengthen the energy security of Ukraine and Italy. They discussed the revision of bilateral agreements to optimise joint energy projects. At the same time, it was confirmed that Italy, together with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, will allocate €200 million for Ukrhydroenergo, Ukraine’s largest hydroelectric power generation company.
Metallurgy as a driving force for cooperation
As part of the Metallurgy and Critical Materials panel, Metinvest Group representatives discussed the importance of modernising Ukrainian enterprises with the latest Italian green metallurgy technologies. Yulia Sviridenko, First Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine, emphasised the important role of metallurgy for the economies of both countries, noting that Ukraine could become a reliable supplier of metal to the EU, replacing products from Russia and strengthening Europe’s strategic autonomy.
Green manufacturing and the future of the steel industry
Metinvest Group’s Chief Commercial Officer Dmitriy Nikolayenko emphasised the company’s ambition to become a leader in green steel production in Europe. The company’s key initiatives include the modernisation of equipment at Northern GOK and the construction of the DRI/HBI plant, which is planned to be converted to hydrogen energy as part of its decarbonisation commitments. This project will produce 6.8 million tonnes of green steel per year, which will maximise the capacity of the GOKs in Ukraine and create new jobs.
History of cooperation and new opportunities
Luca Villa, CEO of Metinvest Adria, recalled the company’s historical ties with the Italian market and stressed the importance of building a new plant in Piombino. The planned plant will be an important element of Metinvest Group’s strategy to control the entire steel value chain, from mining to processing. The project is expected to create new employment opportunities and ensure environmentally friendly production.
The importance of partnership for the future
Summing up the forum, Metinvest representatives noted that cooperation with Italian partners is not only an economic but also a geopolitical step to strengthen ties between Ukraine and the European Union. The signing of a historic declaration on the construction of a green steel plant in Piombino is a symbol of the future development of the steel industry and an important step towards building steel bridges between Ukraine and the EU.
