Steel Mills

Nucor's New Sheet Mill Could Land in W.Va.: Local Media Reports

Written by Michael Cowden

January 11, 2022

West Virginia is on the cusp of announcing that it has been chosen for the site of Nucor Corp.’s new, $2.7 billion electric arc furnace (EAF) sheet mill, according to local media reports.

The Charlotte, N.C.-based steelmaker said when it announced the project last September that it was considering locations in three states: Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

Nucor

A Nucor spokeswoman did not immediately respond to a request for comment or confirmation on Tuesday, Jan. 11.

West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice could make an official announcement as soon as Wednesday evening during his “State of the State” address, according to The Times West Virginian newspaper.

“I’m certainly willing to confirm there is likely to be a big announcement on that same magnitude… about $2.7 billion,” House Speaker Roger Hanshaw was quoted as saying.

Speculation that West Virginia could land the big, new sheet mill – expected to have capacity of three million tons per year – reached a fevered pitch after West Virginia’s Senate and House held a special session on Monday to consider tax credits and other incentives to attract the project, according to The Wheeling Intelligencer.

Nucor’s new EAF sheet mill is part of a tide of new capacity expected to come online in North America this year and through the next few years.

Commercial operations are expected to begin in 2024, approximately two years after local incentives, permits and other regulatory approvals are received.

By Michael Cowden, Michael@SteelMarketUpdate.com

Michael Cowden

Michael Cowden is managing editor for Steel Market Update. Cowden has covered the steel industry since 2007. He specializes in flat-rolled steel but has also reported on steel long products, steel pipe and tube, and aluminum. Before joining SMU, Cowden held reporting jobs at Fastmarkets AMM in Chicago, the Associated Press in Pittsburgh, and the Cambodia Daily in Phnom Penh. He has also worked as a copy editor and in marketing at the University of Chicago Press. Cowden has a BA in English from the University of Chicago and an MSJ journalism from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism. Contact him at michael@steelmarketupdate.com or 724-759-7872.

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