Pittsburgh-based United States Steel Corporation (U.S. Steel) announced it had broken ground on its next-generation sustainable and technologically advanced steel mill in Osceola, Ark., on Thursday.
The $3 billion steelmaking facility will be the most advanced in North America, the company said, and the largest private project in the history of Arkansas.
“Several years ago, we embarked on a transformative vision for U.S. Steel,” said U.S. Steel President & CEO David B. Burritt. “Now we celebrate, as we take another significant step forward in becoming the steel company of the future. This facility is engineered to bring together the most advanced technology, to create the steel mill of the future that delivers profitable, sustainable solutions for our customers.”
The new plant will be located next to U.S. Steel’s existing Big River Steel plant. Together, the two will be called Big River Steel Works. U.S. Steel anticipates that the new plant will bring 900 jobs to the area, in addition to creating thousands of construction jobs. State, county, and local officials joined U.S. Steel President & CEO David B. Burritt during the ground-breaking.
“Last month, we announced that U.S. Steel would build a new state-of-the-art mill in Osceola,” Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson said. “We are excited to break ground on the project. Once it is finished, it will be the largest single project investment in the state’s history. This is a great opportunity for Arkansas, and I am thrilled to watch the impact this project will have on the northeast Arkansas economy as well as the families of the workers to be employed by the mill.”
The new facility is expected to feature two electric arc furnaces (EAFs) with the capability of advancing 3 million tons of steel per year, a state-of-the-art endless casting and rolling line, and advanced finishing capabilities. The company said it is the first use of endless casting and rolling technology in the United States and will bring significant energy, efficiency, and enhancements to its operations.
The project is expected to be completed and in operation by 2024.