ArcelorMittal may shut down manufacturing in Kraków

The world's largest steel producer, ArcelorMittal (AM) is considering shutting down a major forge in its Kraków plant next year, Puls Biznesu daily reported. ArcelorMittal is to decide whether its only forge operating in the Kraków factory will be modernized or closed. The company  has been in talks with government representatives, and the future of the plant depends on their outcome, according to Sanjay Samaddar, the CEO of the Polish unit of ArcelorMittal. AM demands, among others, an exemption from excise duties for the entire Polish metallurgy, as Poland is the only EU state with such tax imposed on energy-intensive corporations. Currently, the Ministry of State Treasury is not planning on implementing any exemptions, the daily reported. As many as 1,500 employees may be lose their jobs if the forge is closed.