Acciaierie Valbruna secures 30-year concession in Bolzano with new agreement

A significant agreement has been reached between the Amenduni family, owners of Acciaierie Valbruna, and the Province of Bolzano, securing the future of the company's industrial site in Bolzano for at least 30 years. This accord brings an end to months of uncertainty for the 570 workers at the facility and has been welcomed by trade unions Fiom/Cgil, Fim/Cisl, and Uilm/Uil.

The new concession, which can be extended for another 30 years at the company's request, sets an annual fee of 1.74 million euros. Crucially, the agreement stipulates that the company will be responsible for extraordinary maintenance. This is contingent upon Acciaierie Valbruna's proven adherence to the concession's obligations, particularly concerning employment levels and the continuation of steel production.

The resolution follows a period of considerable doubt, including a failed public tender for the site and protests by metalworkers. The situation began in September 2025 when the Province initiated a public procedure for the area's concession, which expired in 2025. The tender went unanswered, prompting the involvement of the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy due to the strategic national importance of the plant's special steel production.

Province President Arno Kompatscher expressed satisfaction with the outcome, stating, "We have found the square circle." He emphasized that the concession instrument guarantees the continuation of steel production, a scenario that might not have been assured if the land had been sold. The agreement, he noted, balances public interest with productive and employment concerns. The Province has also committed to specific extraordinary investments related to the production site.