I don't want to nationalise ex Ilva steelworks - Meloni

(ANSA) - ROME, FEB 23 - Premier Giorgia Meloni on Thursday denied wanting to nationalise the ex Ilva steelworks after the government placed the struggling Taranto plant under extraordinary administration earlier in the week.
    "It is a matter that has been badly managed and for which we are trying to find a solution," she told veteran Rai journalist Bruno Vespa in a recorded interview for his talk show Porta a Porta.
    "Some say (the former Ilva) is doomed, but there is a market for quality steel" and the government is working to ensure continuity of production at the plant, added Meloni.
    But "I don't want to nationalise Ilva, I think there are margins for finding private investors who really have an interest in making it work. There are several that have come forward," said the premier.
    On Tuesday the government put ex Ilva now called Accaierie d'Italia (AdI) under extraordinary administration after talks with the majority stakeholder broke down.
    It also appointed Giancarlo Quaranta, an engineer with long experience in the steel industry, as the extraordinary commissioner to run it.
    The steelworks, once Europe's biggest and which currently employs almost 10,000 workers, has racked up over three billion euros in debts amid an inability to pay its bills and suppliers.
    According to the Italian media, Ukrainian group Metinvest is interested in Taranto, as are Italian company Arvedi and Vulcan Green Steel, a unit of Indian group Jindal Steel and Power.
    (ANSA).