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U. S. Steel Breaks Ground on Heat Recovery Coke Plant at Granite City

05/06/2008 - United States Steel and SunCoke Energy break ground on a $570 million joint capital investment program to construct a new state-of-the-art 650,000 ton/year coke facility adjacent to U. S. Steel’s Granite City Works.

United States Steel Corp. and SunCoke Energy, Inc. broke ground on a $570 million joint capital investment program to construct a new state-of-the-art 650,000 ton/year coke facility adjacent to U. S. Steel’s Granite City Works.
 
The new coke facility will use SunCoke Energy's proven low-emission heat-recovery technology to process coal into coke; this technology has been recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as setting the standard for coal processing ovens. It will be constructed, owned, and operated by Gateway Energy and Coke Co., an indirect wholly owned subsidiary and affiliate of SunCoke Energy. U. S. Steel will provide $280 million to support the program.
 
Energy generated in the coke making process will be used in a cogeneration plant that will be owned and operated by U. S. Steel. The cogeneration facility, which is also part of the investment, will provide electricity to Granite City Works.
 
"Our more than 2000 dedicated employees and their predecessors have made this facility a key contributor to the local economy for more than 100 years, while supplying high-quality flat-rolled carbon sheet steel to the construction, container, pipe and tube, service center, and electrical industries," said U. S. Steel Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer John H. Goodish.
 
U. S. Steel and SunCoke Energy worked closely with environmental stakeholders to establish a number of benchmarks to further demonstrate their joint commitment to environmental stewardship. Both companies will go beyond compliance by taking additional steps to monitor and reduce emissions at existing facilities. The companies will also create a trust fund for area projects that promote environmental conservancy.
 
Construction of these facilities is expected to take 18 months and will generate approximately 900 temporary construction jobs at its peak. When completed, these facilities are expected to create 88 full-time jobs while enhancing the long-term viability of the U. S. Steel Granite City Works.