US Steel to restart construction on Alabama EAF

Pittsburgh-based United States Steel Corp. has announced the restart of construction on what it calls a technologically advanced electric arc furnace (EAF) steelmaking facility at its Tubular Operations in Fairfield, Alabama. U.S. Steel previously began construction of the EAF, which is in Alabama’s Jefferson County, in March 2015. However, the company suspended construction in December of the same year because of what it said were unfavorable market conditions. 

“We are pleased to announce the achievement of the market and performance stage gates required to restart our Tubular Segment EAF,” says U.S. Steel President and Chief Executive Officer David B. Burritt. “This investment is an important step to improve our cost structure and positions our Tubular business to win over the long term. We are committed to investing in the sustainable steel technology required to be a value-added tubular solutions provider for our customers.”

U.S. Steel says the investment to complete the EAF, which includes modernization of the existing rounds caster, is expected to be approximately $215 million. The company says it will add roughly 150 full-time employees to work at the new furnace. The EAF will have an annual capacity of 1.6 million tons, and the company says construction will begin immediately, with the EAF producing steel rounds in the second half of 2020.

“Thanks to the president’s strong trade actions and improved market conditions, support from the United Steelworkers and incentives from the state of Alabama and the Jefferson County Commission, we are excited to add EAF capabilities to our company’s footprint and provide sustainable tubular solutions for our customers,” Burritt says.

U.S. Steel Corp., headquartered in Pittsburgh, is a leading integrated steel producer and Fortune 250 company with major operations in the United States and Central Europe.