United States Steel Corp., Pittsburgh, announces additional actions to advance the company’s “best of both” strategy by combining leading integrated and mini-mill steel technologies, and by aligning the company around three core assets within its North American Flat-Rolled operating segment.
U. S. Steel intends to indefinitely idle a significant portion of its Great Lakes Works operation near Detroit. The company expects to begin idling the iron and steelmaking facilities on or around April 1, and the Hot Strip Mill rolling facility before the end of 2020.
The company’s strategy is focused on three core assets within its North American Flat-Rolled segment designed to deliver cost or capability differentiation. The “best of both” strategy is highlighted by the following investments announced earlier this year: the more than $1 billion endless casting and rolling and cogeneration projects at Mon Valley Works in Pennsylvania; the $750 million in the hot strip mill and other projects at Gary Works in Indiana; and Big River Steel in Arkansas, which is the nation’s first LEED certified steel mill. U. S. Steel ultimately intends to fully acquire Big River Steel by exercising its call option for the remaining equity within the next four years.
These strategic “best of both” investments, along with projects such as the $280 million electric arc furnace being built at U. S. Steel’s Fairfield Tubular Operations in Alabama, are already creating construction jobs now and building a future that ensures more secure, sustainable jobs for the company’s employees. They also help the company reach its voluntary goal of a 20-percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions intensity by 2030.
The company currently expects to continue operating the following areas at Great Lakes Works in line with customer demand: the Pickle Line, Cold Mill, Sheet Temper Mill, Continuous Galvanizing Line (CGL), Annealing, and Warehouses.
