United States Steel Corp., headquartered in Pittsburgh, has chosen Osceola, Arkansas, as the location for a new electric arc furnace (EAF) steel plant. Site selection is subject to many factors, including final agreements with key partners. Authorization for the project is pending and the company has said it expects the first quarter of 2022 to be completed, with project completion and full operation slated for 2024.
The company announcement in fall 2021 that it began an exploratory site selection process for a new EAF flat-rolled steel mini-steel plant, noting that potential locations included the two states where US Steel has existing EAF operations (Alabama and Arkansas , where its Big River Steel mill is located) as well as pristine sites.
The new plant is designed to expand the customer benefits of US Steel, according to the company. It is expected to feature two FEAs with a steel production capacity of 3 million tons per year, an endless casting and rolling line and advanced finishing capabilities. The company says this plant will be the first to use endless casting and rolling technology in the United States, which will bring significant improvements in energy, efficiency and capacity to US Steel operations.
Additionally, once completed, US Steel said the project will seek LEED certification, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.
“With this location selected and the shovels ready, we are reshaping the future of the steel industry”, American steel said President and CEO David B. Burritt. “We had many competitive site options, but Osceola offers our customers unparalleled benefits. “
When completed, the new facility in combination with Big River Steel will form a 6.3 million tonne mega-plant capable of delivering many of the most advanced and durable steels in North America, according to the company. The new non-grain oriented electrical steel and galvalume / galvanizing lines currently under construction at Big River Steel will enable US Steel to meet the pressing supply chain needs of customers to meet their own domestic manufacturing expansion. The location provides abundant, increasingly renewable and clean energy from Entergy Arkansas, BNSF’s superior Class 1 rail service with connections to other railroads, Mississippi River docks, and access to trucking interstate, adds US Steel.
“The State of Arkansas, Mississippi County, City of Osceola, Entergy, BNSF and other parties have all worked to make this the clear choice for a path to the future without roadblocks,” he said. said Burritt. “We are not going to keep our stakeholders waiting to see progress. We plan to innovate this quarter and get to work as soon as the permits are in hand. With its extraordinarily low cost structure, energy efficient production equipment and advanced capabilities, this $ 3 billion project will bring significant benefits to our customers, shareholders, communities, employees and contribute to a more sustainable world.
He adds, “Our country and our customers need a strong and resilient supply chain to meet consumer needs, and that starts with advanced and sustainable steels from US Steel.
Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson says, “Arkansas has created an ideal business environment for the growth of the steel industry in our state. The investment and well-paying jobs that will result from this announcement will make a real difference in the lives of many families in Northeast Arkansas. I am grateful for the support of the Legislature which has been essential in winning this expansion. Today, US Steel is an important part of our future and we look forward to continuing our success in the years to come. “
“Mississippi County has become a national leader in steel production, and US Steel’s decision to create the ‘steel mill of the future’ in this community continues to underscore why,” adds Arkansas Secretary of Commerce , Mike Preston. “Arkansas not only has a skilled workforce, a reliable electricity grid, and easy access to rivers, railways and highways, but it also has a governor, d ‘a general assembly and many community partners and stakeholders who recognize the importance of expanding economic opportunities for the Arkansans. and who will go the extra mile to compete for these opportunities. US Steel is a valued member of the state’s business community, and we are delighted to continue our partnership with them as they establish the most advanced steel fabrication facility in North America, here. even in Arkansas.