Metinvest Group announced plans to build a new steel mill in Pembino (Italy) with a capacity of 2.7 million tons of steel per year. According to the company’s CEO Yuriy Ryzhenkov, construction will begin at the end of this year, and the first steel is expected to be released by the end of 2027. The project is being implemented jointly with the Italian company Danieli and is important both for Metinvest’s international presence and for the further modernization of Ukrainian enterprises.
The plant in Italy as a technology platform
The new facility will become a pilot site for testing technologies that are then planned to be implemented at Zaporizhstal and Kametstal. It is expected that about 70% of the project cost will be covered by credit funds. After the completion of construction, Danieli will withdraw from the project, considering it as an opportunity to demonstrate its developments in the field of high-tech production.
Support for Ukraine
In addition to his work in the industrial sector, Rinat Akhmetov finances humanitarian and military initiatives. According to him, he sent UAH 11.3 billion to help Ukraine during the full-scale war. These funds were used to support the affected regions, help internally displaced persons, and provide units of the Ukrainian forces with the necessary equipment.
Akhmetov’s foundation continues to implement humanitarian programs, and the Steel Front initiative supplies defenders with ammunition, drones, medical equipment, armor, and steel dugouts. Metinvest manufactures armor for bulletproof vests and supplies steel to protect equipment, including Abrams, Leopard, and Patriot systems.
DTEK Group, as part of the “Battle for Light” campaign, attracted funding from the European Commission and the US government in the amount of 107 million euros to restore energy infrastructure. The Heart of Azovstal program has been increased to UAH 1.6 billion and includes assistance to the defenders of Mariupol and their families, as well as housing for military personnel with disabilities.
Rinat Akhmetov‘s businesses support residents of frontline and de-occupied territories by donating food, medicine, and hygiene products. In 2024, FC Shakhtar allocated tens of millions of hryvnias for the treatment and rehabilitation of military personnel, assistance to displaced persons, and the development of charitable projects.
Innovations in production
At the same time, Metinvest is implementing digital solutions at existing plants. Zaporizhstal has implemented the ForgeCheck system, which uses artificial intelligence to control the quality of slabs. The developers note that this helps reduce the percentage of complaints, optimize energy consumption, and can bring an economic effect of up to $250 thousand per year. According to the R&D center of Metinvest Digital, testing of AI technologies began in 2021, and the launch of the second version of ForgeCheck is planned for next year. Thus, such an asset structure allows maintaining stability in changing conditions and continuing to implement long-term investment programs both in Ukraine and abroad.
