Pittsburgh-based U.S. Steel Corporation announced Tuesday that it would be locating its next-generation, sustainable, and technologically advanced steel mill in Osceola, Ark.
The new facility would be located close to the company’s cutting-edge Big River Steel plant. Engineered to bring together the most advanced technology to create the steel mill of the future, the new mill will be designed to extend U.S. Steel’s customer advantages while striving toward a more sustainable future, the company said.
“With this location selected and shovels ready, we are reshaping the future of steelmaking,” said U.S. Steel President and Chief Executive Officer David B. Burritt. “We had numerous competitive site options, but Osceola offers our customers incomparable advantages.”
The new facility is expected to feature two electric arc furnaces (EAFs) with a steelmaking capability of 3 million tons per year. The facility will also feature a state-of-the-art endless casting and rolling line and advanced finishing capabilities. U.S. Steel officials said it would be the first use of endless casting and rolling technology in the United States and would bring significant energy, efficiency, and capability enhancements to the company.
Site selection is still subject to several factors, including final agreements with key partners, but the permitting for the project is underway, the company said, and groundbreaking is scheduled for the first quarter of 2022. When the project is completed and in operation, anticipated to be in 2024, the project will apply to become LEED certified.
When combined with the Big River Steel mill, the facilities will form a 6.3 million ton mega-mill capable of providing the most advanced, sustainable steel in North America. The location, the company said, allows the mills to draw from abundant and increasingly renewable and clean power from Entergy Arkansas, as well as to connect with Class 1 rail service through BNSF, connecting to other railroads, Mississippi River docks, and interstate trucking access.
“The State of Arkansas, Mississippi County, the 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,” Burritt said. “We’re not going to make our stakeholders wait to see progress. We intend to break ground this quarter and get to work as soon as permits are in hand. With its extraordinarily low-cost structure, energy efficient production equipment, and advanced capabilities, this $3 billion project will yield significant benefits to our customers, stockholders, communities, employees, and contribute to a more sustainable world.”