In an announcement Tuesday, the company said it is rescheduling work over the next six months, but “preserving flexibility to resume the full scope of project activities when conditions improve.”

“Conditions will continue to be monitored and the date of expected commissioning will be advised in due course,” it added. 

Through the project, the Ohio sheet mill will gain a third electric arc furnace and a caster. The project will add an additional 850,000 metric tons of capacity.

BlueScope also said it is reducing its capital spending in the second half of the current fiscal year. The company said it now expects full-year capital spending in the range of AU$200 million to AU$250 million. In more typical years, the company spends about AU$400 million, it said.