It's been talked about for some time, but now it's reality: JSW USA has restarted its electric arc furnace at Mingo Junction, Ohio, and cast a few slabs in the process, according to online reports.
JSW, based in India, announce their intention to acquire the mill back in March, for the princely sum of USD80.85 million. It's been out of action since 2009, but had it's 1.6Mt/yr EAF installed five years earlier.
According to a report by SPGlobal.com, "JSW USA had been producing hot-rolled coil with Brazilian slab at the mill's hot-strip mill throughout 2018 as the restart of the EAF was recheduled several times."
The SP Global report claims that scrap suppliers believe the mill will be consuming 100kt of scrap montlhy by April 2019 and that half of the mix will be prime scrap. Back in 2007 when the mill was running at its peak, it was buying around 120kt of scrap every month.
According to Business Wire, Mingo Junction 'is now the largest Consteel Tenova EAF in North America'. The aforementioned 'first slab' cast took place on 14 December and at that time, JSW USA's president John Hritz proclaimed: 'Today, we are making history.'
Looking ahead, JSW USA is planning to install another EAF in Ohio. "And at the Baytown, Texas mill, equipment is coming from all over the world to make JSW USA 100% melt and manufacture in approximately 18 to 24 months," claims the Business Wire report.
A last word from John Hritz: "When all is said and one, JSW USA will be producing the highest quality, lowest cost steel products in the country, whether they're made in Texas or here in Ohio," he told Business Wire.
Source: SP Global Platts/Business Wire
