Steel Mills

Big River Proceeds with Plans for Texas Mill

October 17, 2019

Even after selling nearly half the company to U.S. Steel, Big River Steel intends to move ahead with its plans for a new EAF mill in Brownville, Texas, according to comments from CEO Dave Stickler to S&P Global Platts.

Stickler said that a development company has been formed called Brownsville Investment Group LLC to handle the development work for the project.

The Texas plant will be modeled after the one in Osceola, Ark. It will take a few years for permits to be approved and construction completed. Big River is also doubling its annual capacity next year at the Osceola mill to 3.3 million tons. The recent acquisition of 49.9 percent of the company by U.S. Steel is not deterring Big River from making strategic investments, Stickler said.

When asked about fears of an oversupply of capacity in the U.S., and the new Steel Dynamics mill practically on Brownsville’s doorstep, Stickler said neither bothers him as Big River has a better location with ready access to the water and opportunity to serve Mexico.