United States Steel Celebrates Opening of DR-Grade Pellet Production Facility in Minnesota

U.S. Steel (NYSE: X) announced the opening of its new direct reduced (DR)-grade pellet production facility at its Minnesota Ore Operations-Keetac Plant.

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05/23/2024 - 03:45 PM

The $150 million investment expands on the Company’s existing competitive advantage in low-cost iron ore

KEEWATIN, Minn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- U. S. Steel (NYSE: X) (“U. S. Steel”) today celebrated the launch and operational readiness of its direct reduced (DR)-grade pellet production facility at its Minnesota Ore Operations-Keetac Plant. Having already confirmed the first shipment of DR-grade pellets, the Keetac facility is on track to deliver approximately four million tons of pellets annually. The $150 million investment marks a step forward in U. S. Steel’s metallics strategy by supplying the increasingly tight DR-grade pellet market with low-cost iron ore and building on the company’s ability to meet customer needs.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz; David B. Burritt, President and CEO of U. S. Steel; Kristen Vake, Executive Director, Iron Mining Association of Minnesota; and Travis Kolari, Head of Operations, U. S. Steel Minnesota Ore Operations cut the ribbon on U. S. Steel's new DR-Grade pellet plant. (Photo: Business Wire)

The new production facility will maintain optionality, able to produce either DR-grade iron ore pellets or blast furnace iron ore pellets, allowing the Company to adjust to changing market conditions. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and other elected officials joined the celebration, along with U. S. Steel President and CEO David B. Burritt, Senior Vice President - Raw Materials and Sustainable Resources John Gordon, employees, and members of the community.

“This project was completed ahead of time, under budget, and most importantly, safely. Plus, it created 250 construction jobs and 33 full-time union and management jobs,” said Burritt. “This is an incredible achievement for our team at Keetac and for U. S. Steel, as we continue to produce the highest quality products: mined, melted, and made right here in the USA.”

“U. S. Steel’s new pellet facility is a smart investment in the people and potential of the Iron Range,” said Governor Walz. “This project is a win-win. We’re creating jobs, lowering emissions, and ensuring Minnesota’s iron ore industry remains strong for generations.”

Construction on the DR-grade pellet facility began in August of 2022 and was completed in December of 2023. U. S. Steel’s Minnesota Ore Operations directly employs nearly 2,000 workers.

About U. S. Steel

Founded in 1901, United States Steel Corporation is a leading steel producer. With an unwavering focus on safety, the Company’s customer-centric Best for All^® strategy is advancing a more secure, sustainable future for U. S. Steel and its stakeholders. With a renewed emphasis on innovation, U. S. Steel serves the automotive, construction, appliance, energy, containers, and packaging industries with high value-added steel products such as U. S. Steel’s proprietary XG3^® advanced high-strength steel. The Company also maintains competitively advantaged iron ore production and has an annual raw steelmaking capability of 22.4 million net tons. U. S. Steel is headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with world-class operations across the United States and in Central Europe. For more information, please visit www.ussteel.com.