Speaking during BlueScope’s first-half earnings call, managing director and chief executive Mark Vassella said construction has progressed significantly in the past six months. The main process buildings have largely been erected, he said, and the work is shifting into the equipment installation phase. 

Process equipment is being delivered to the site, and ancillary equipment such as cranes, water systems and electrical infrastructure is being installed, the company also said. 

“All this progress has been done in the face of the widespread COVID-19 pandemic in the U.S. So, it’s a great credit to the team at Delta but we continue to be mindful of the ongoing health and safety risks,” Vassella said.  

He said workforce recruitment is progressing well, and the company has filled about two-thirds of the new positions being created by the expansion.  

“Our strategy has been to take our very best operators and place them on the project, backfilling their roles with our new recruits who join experienced teams,” he said.  

The expansion, which includes a third electric arc furnace and second caster, will increase the plant’s capacity by about 850,000 metric tons.