US Steel breaks ground in Arkansas

United States Steel Corp., headquartered in Pittsburgh, broke ground on its new electric arc furnace (EAF) steel mill in Osceola, Arkansas, Feb. 9. State, county and local officials, along with key business partners Entergy and BNSF, joined U. S. Steel President and CEO David B. Burritt at the groundbreaking. The company says the $3 billion steelmaking facility, which U.S. Steel announced in January, will be the most advanced in North America and the largest private project in Arkansas.

“Several years ago, we embarked on a transformative vision for U. S. Steel,” U. S. Steel President and CEO David B. Burritt said at the groundbreaking. “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, which is expected to bring 900 jobs to the area, along with thousands of construction jobs, is being constructed adjacent to U. S. Steel’s Big River Steel mill. The two facilities will be known as Big River Steel Works.

“Last month, we announced that U. S. Steel would build a new state-of-the-art mill in Osceola,” Arkansas Gov. 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 site is expected to feature two EAFs with 3 million tons per year of steelmaking capability, an endless casting and rolling line and advanced finishing capabilities. This first use of endless casting and rolling technology in the United States brings significant energy, efficiency and capability enhancements to the company’s operations, according to U.S. Steel.

“It is with great pride that we break ground on U. S. Steel’s latest endeavor in Arkansas,” that state’s Secretary of Commerce Mike Preston said. “Once this mill reaches full production, Mississippi County will be the largest steel-producing county in the nation. The company’s decision to select Osceola as the site of this mill speaks volumes about the business climate and workforce in the area. By being the home of the first mill in the country to use endless casting and rolling technology, the steel industry will continue to recognize Arkansas for its excellence in steel production.”

Project completion and full operation are anticipated by 2024, according to U.S. Steel.