Speaking during the company’s quarterly earnings call on Tuesday, chief executive Michael D. Garcia said Algoma’s challenges included a fire at one of two coke oven coal conveyors, which forced it to go out into the market for coke, a local COVID outbreak that created staffing problems at its direct strip production complex, and declining steel prices. 

Nevertheless, he said the EAF project is on budget and on schedule, and the company continues to eye a 2024 start-up. Algoma said that to date, EAF building pilings are 88% complete and building foundations are 75% done. 

More than 10,000 cubic meters of concrete have been poured, it said, and more than 1,200 net tons of rebar have been set.  
The company has said the project will enhance its capabilities and drive long-term sustainability.

Meanwhile, commissioning of the first phase of work on Algoma’s discrete plate mill is ongoing. Garcia said that effort has been slowed as the company equips a legacy mill with modern, next-generation automation and process controls. 

Garcia said the mechanical work is complete and the remaining work is centered on IT side related to automation. Commissioning is expected to continue through the remainder of 2022, with completion set for early 2023. 

The second phase of work is to start in the middle of next year.