International Steel Mills
CSA Gets Official Operating License
Written by Sandy Williams
October 1, 2016
After running on provisional licenses for the past six years, Thyssenkrupp’s CSA steel mill in Brazil has finally been granted a definitive operating license by the state environment authority.
Companhia Siderúrgica do Atlantico (CSA) has faced environmental problems ever since it began production. Numerous fines and shutdowns were ordered by the court in relation to problems with emissions and contaminated water.
CSA said in a statement that “the INEA (State Environmental Institute) certified that all environmental requirements have been met by the company.”
The $5.9 billion CSA mill, part of Thyssenkrupp’s Steel Americas project, has been a money pit for the company since construction began back in 2007. The joint venture with Brazilian mining company Vale was hit by high construction costs and interest rates that put the mill over budget. The ensuing 2008 U.S. recession and subsequent Brazilian recession left the plant struggling with soaring production costs and global pricing pressure.
An unsuccessful attempt was made by Thyssenkrupp to sell its share of CSA in 2013. Complications with Vale’s 27 percent ownership and problems at the plant nixed any deal. Thyssenkrupp sold its U.S. facility in Calvert, Alabama to ArcelorMittal and Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corporation in December 2013. Thyssenkrupp gained total control of CSA in April 2016 after acquiring Vale’s 27 percent share for a nominal fee.
CSA has a production capacity of 5 million tonnes of steel slab per year and continues to provide slabs to the Calvert mill in Alabama.
Sandy Williams
Read more from Sandy WilliamsLatest in International Steel Mills
USS, Nippon Steel quiet as litigation deadline approaches
There has been little word from U.S. Steel, Nippon Steel, or the White House since President Trump endorsed the companies’ “partnership” on social media and celebrated it at the May 30 rally outside Pittsburgh.
Ternium’s Vedoya named AIST’s Steelmaker of the Year
Maximo Vedoya was awarded in recognition of Ternium’s expansion project in Pesquería, Mexico, and Ternium’s efforts to decarbonize steelmaking.
CRU: Baosteel hints at output cuts in China
Baosteel exec comments on market rumors of 50 million tons of output being cut this year, less than 0.5% of the 1 billion tons-plus China has produced annually in recent years.
POSCO mulls teaming up with Hyundai on Louisiana mill
South Korea’s POSCO is eyeing linking up with Hyundai Steel in the project to build a steel plant in Louisiana, according to media reports.
Global steel production edges lower in February
February’s global raw steel output is tied with last December's for the fourth-lowest monthly production rate recorded over the past two years.