Company Announcements
April 29, 2026
USS to invest $1.9B to build DRI plant at Big River Steel Works
Written by Ethan Bernard
U.S. Steel has announced a $1.9 billion investment to construct a new direct-reduced iron (DRI) facility at Big River Steel (BRS) Works in Osceola, Ark.
The Pittsburgh-based steelmaker, acquired by Japan’s Nippon Steel, said the investment is the first of its kind in the US.
“From iron ore in Minnesota to steel production in Arkansas, this $1.9 billion investment strengthens our ability to create steel that is truly mined, melted, made in America, from start to finish,” U.S. Steel President and CEO David B. Burritt said in a statement on Wednesday.
“By vertically integrating DRI production directly at Big River Steel Works, we enhance efficiency, secure our competitive advantage, and position U.S. Steel for long-term success,” he added.
Leveraging BRS benefits
The company said the new facility will leverage U.S. Steel’s 2022 investment into direct reduced-grade pellet capabilities at its Minnesota Ore Operations’ Keetac plant. This will create a direct link between its mining operations, EAF feedstock creation, and steel production at Big River Steel Works.
U.S. Steel laid out the advantages of having DRI production at the facility. The company’s more than $3 billion Big River 2 expansion is now in full production, and there are four EAFs. The investment will eliminate the need to ship DRI to the facility. Additionally, it creates a “competitive sourcing advantage” for Big River’s feedstock.
Nippon ties accelerate project
Burritt pointed out that USS’ partnership with Nippon Steel “helped accelerate this investment years sooner than would have otherwise been possible.”
Recall that USS parent company Nippon has committed to invest $11 billion in U.S. Steel by the end of 2028.
The project is expected to support ~200 full-time Big River Steel Works employees and 35 full-time embedded contractor roles. And it will create an estimated 2,000 construction jobs at its peak.
