Market Segment
December 22, 2025
USS board OKs $350M BF #14 reline project at Gary Works
Written by Ethan Bernard
U.S. Steel’s board of directors has approved the funding for the full $350-million Gary Works blast furnace (BF) reline project.
Relining BF #14 is “critical maintenance needed to allow Gary Works to continue to meet customer commitments and ensures the long-term iron making capabilities and capacities at Gary Works,” the company said in a statement on Monday. The approval occurred at the last board meeting of the year.
BF #14 is the largest of four BFs at Gary Works in Indiana. It produces iron for high-strength steel with applications from cars to buildings, and uses iron ore pellets from USS’ Minnesota Ore facilities.
No further timeline was provided.
“Each milestone represents tangible progress on our mission to invest billions in the future of American steelmaking,” David B. Burritt, president and CEO of U.S. Steel, said in the statement.
The company said major investments continue to advance upgrades at the hot strip mill, where steel slabs are converted to coils, and the steel shop, where iron is converted to steel.
The expected costs of those improvements are roughly $200 million, according to USS. And the steelmaker is working with the Indiana Department of Environmental Management to secure necessary permits for the upgrades. It is submitting the air permit and stormwater construction plans in December.
USS noted that once in effect, the projects and collection of investments “will enhance steelmaking capabilities, improve competitiveness, and increase capacity.”
Recall that USS’ parent company, Japan’s Nippon Steel, has committed to invest $11 billion in U.S. Steel by the end of 2028.
