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One of Republic Steel’s blast furnaces could fire again in Lorain, according to a company that hopes to make pig iron there.
Lorain Pig Iron LLC on Feb. 21 announced it is “engaging technical service providers necessary to review and submit proposals for the recommissioning of Republic Steel’s Blast Furnace 4,” known as BF4 in Lorain.
The company, known as LPI, is a jointly owned operation of Republic Steel and ERP Iron Ore LLC. LPI announced it expects to commence production of pig iron at BF4 by the end of the year.
“LPI seeks to introduce a new beginning in U.S. steelmaking, where its U.S. blast furnaces will provide pig iron for the growing production of ‘electric arc furnace’ steel and foundries,” the company announcement said. “LPI will fully integrate its affiliated metallurgical coal mines, coke batteries and iron ore mines as it proudly reintroduces merchant pig iron production to North America.”
The announcement referred to blast furnaces and electric arc furnaces, the heating methods for refining iron and other raw materials for use.
The blast furnace will be recommissioned in partnership with the United Steel Workers and is expected to produce and distribute more than 1 million tons of pig iron a year to customers in the United States, according to Lorain Pig Iron LLC.
The company announced it is negotiating agreements with Republic Steel and other groups for the recommissioning and use of BF 4.
Lorain Pig Iron LLC will start evaluating the recommissioning of Republic Steel’s Blast Furnace 3, or BF 3, which could increase production of pig iron in Lorain to more than 2 million tons a year.
The announcement served as a follow-up to the companies’ agreement in summer 2017.
In July last year, Republic Steel and ERP Iron Ore LLC announced their memorandum of understanding to partner on producing up to 1 million net tons of pig iron a year at Republic Steel’s Lorain mill.
The joint venture will serve the increasing demand for virgin iron required to produce steel in the electric arc furnace, or EAF, sector, according to the companies’ statement from July 2017.
ERP Iron Ore announced it would send iron ore pellets to Lorain via rail from its plant in Reynolds, Indiana, which was built at a cost of more than $400 million, according to the companies.
Republic Steel made regional news in 2011 when the company announced plans for a new electric arc furnace, an $85 million addition that was expected to create almost 450 jobs at its Lorain mill.
In November 2013, production was delayed due to fire at the mill.
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