The economic slowdown has prompted U.S. Steel Corp. to put off construction of a new $450 million plant in Alabama.
The Sumpter County facility, which was expected to ultimately create about 235 jobs, would produce a material that could be used as an alternative to coke in the steelmaking processs, according to an Associated Press report.
U.S. Steel spokesman John Armstrong said the timing had to be adjusted because of the economic slowdown but stressed that it has not been scrapped. He said there is no specified timetable when U.S. Steel will start work on the project. Armstrong could not be reached today for further comment.
Construction on the initial 450,000-square-foot facility was supposed to start this year on a 360-acre site near the town of Epes.
Pittsburgh-based U.S. Steel was to initially invest $150 million and create 75 jobs at the start.
When plans for the facility were announced in August, the company said it would utilize state-of-the-art technology supplied by Carbonyx, Inc. that processes coal into Cokonyx carbon alloy material.
The facility would produce 250,000 tons of Cokonyx carbon alloy material per year for use in the company's U.S. Steel's Fairfield Works in Alabama.
The Carbonyx process employs technology that results in a significant reduction in emissions and energy consumption when compared to a traditional coke making facility or other commercial non-recovery processes.
Additionally, the gasses created during the process would be utilized in the proposed cogeneration facility.
U.S. Steel, the world's second largest steelmaker, just last month celebrated the start of a $1.2 billion project to construct two environmentally advanced coke batteries at its Clairton Works -- a investment it said will ensure the long-term viability of steelmaking in the Mon Valley and 3,000 jobs.
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