US Steel receives green funding toward Big River 2 mill

US Steel will use proceeds from recently closed “green bonds” to partially fund equipment and facilities at its upcoming Big River 2 flat-rolled steelmaking facility in Arkansas, the company announced on Tuesday September 6

The Arkansas Development Finance Authority environmental improvement revenue bonds total $290 million and are designated for use toward “eligible green projects,” according to a release issued by the Pittsburgh-based steelmaker.

US Steel will use the proceeds to “partially fund work related to its solid waste disposal facilities, including two electric-arc furnaces and other equipment and facilities at […] Big River 2,” the company said.

“Friday’s closing on the green bonds reinforces our commitment to achieving our 2030 greenhouse gas emissions intensity-reduction and 2050 net-zero goals,” David B. Burritt, US Steel president and chief executive officer, said.

The green bonds have a coupon rate of 5.45% and carry a final maturity of 2052. Under the agreement with the Arkansas bond issuer, US Steel will pay semiannual interest.

Construction of Big River 2, near Osceola, Arkansas, is expected to finish in 2024 with a 3-million-ton annual capacity. The mill is expected to operate with as much as 70-80% fewer greenhouse gas emissions than traditional blast furnaces.

US Steel separately repurchased approximately $300 million of outstanding debt last week, the company noted in the same release.

What to read next
Steel producers in the United States remain optimistic about construction demand despite its lackluster short-term outlook, according to market participants
After a consultation period, Fastmarkets has amended the pricing frequency of its MB-STE-0141 steel billet import, cfr Manila, $/tonne, price assessment from a daily basis to twice per week.
Liberty Steel will "temporarily pause" production at its wire rod mill in Georgetown, South Carolina, and shift the plant's production to making steel wire mesh and welded steel products, the company announced on Friday April 19
Fastmarkets proposes to amend its MB-STE-0782 steel billet export, fob ports Iran and MB-STS-0019 steel slab export, fob ports Iran assessments.
Fastmarkets proposes to amend its MB-STE-0896 steel slab import, cif Italy, $/tonne price assessment.
Ferrous scrap could serve as a linchpin in decarbonizing both the steel and shipping sectors in South Korea, particularly in the short term, while waiting for emerging technologies such as hydrogen-based direct-reduced iron to be commercialized, Fastmarkets heard at a seminar on green steel and circularity