PITTSBURGH — At its final meeting of the year, U.S. Steel’s Board of Directors approved the funding for the full $350 million Gary Works blast furnace reline project.
Relining Blast Furnace #14 is maintenance needed to allow Gary Works to continue to meet customer commitments and ensures the long-term iron making capabilities and capacities at Gary Works. Blast Furnace #14, the largest of four at Gary Works, produces iron for high-strength steel used in everything from cars to buildings, using iron ore pellets from its Minnesota Ore facilities.
Major investments in upgrades at the hot strip mill, where steel slabs are converted to coils, and the steel shop, where iron is converted to steel, continue to advance. Those upgrades are expected to cost roughly $200 million. U. S. Steel is working with the Indiana Department of Environmental Management to secure necessary permits for those upgrades, submitting its air permit and stormwater construction plans in December. These projects and collection of investments, once operational, will enhance steelmaking capabilities, improve competitiveness, and increase capacity…