New U.S. Steel Facility Coming To Arkansas

Written by Marybeth Luczak, Executive Editor
U.S. Steel is building a new mill in Osceola, Ark., close to its Big River Steel plant (pictured), where non-grain oriented electrical steel and galvalume/galvanizing lines are currently under construction.

U.S. Steel is building a new mill in Osceola, Ark., close to its Big River Steel plant (pictured), where non-grain oriented electrical steel and galvalume/galvanizing lines are currently under construction.

United States Steel Corp. reported on Jan. 11 that it will build a $3 billion steel mill in Osceola, Ark., to be served by BNSF.

Permitting for the project is under way, and U.S. Steel expects to break ground in first-quarter 2022, with full operation anticipated in 2024.

The steelmaking facility, which will be located close to the company’s Big River Steel plant, is slated to include “two electric arc furnaces (EAFs) with 3 million tons per year of advanced steelmaking capability; a state-of-the-art endless casting and rolling line; and advanced finishing capabilities,” U.S. Steel said.

When completed, the new facility in combination with Big River Steel “will form a 6.3-million-ton mega mill capable of providing many of the most advanced and sustainable steels in North America,” according to U.S. Steel. “The new non-grain oriented electrical steel and galvalume/galvanizing lines currently under construction at Big River Steel will further advance U.S. Steel’s ability to respond to customers’ pressing supply chain needs to satisfy their own domestic manufacturing expansion.” 

Additionally, the Arkansas location allows for BNSF rail service, with connections to Mississippi River docks and interstate trucking access, the company said.

U.S. Steel President and CEO David B. Burritt

“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,” U.S. Steel President and CEO David B. 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 [and] employees. …”

In other developments, U.S. Steel, Norfolk Southern and The Greenbrier Companies, Inc. have teamed to design a “sustainable, high-strength steel” gondola; NS is slated to acquire 800.

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