U. S. Steel said the funding provides for the reline of the No. 14 furnace, the largest of the Indiana facility's four blast furnaces. Gary Works produces iron for steel used in cars, buildings and more, using iron ore pellets from its Minnesota taconite facilities. 

Meanwhile, US$200 million in upgrades to the hot strip mill and steel shop are advancing, U. S. Steel said. An air permit application and stormwater plan were submitted in December, and the company is working alongside the Indiana Department of Environmental Management to acquire the necessary approvals, it added. 

“These Gary Works projects will fuel American manufacturing and expand opportunities for Hoosiers. From the iron range to the finishing lines, these projects are the definition of investing in steel mined, melted and made in America,” said David Burritt, president and chief executive officer of U. S. Steel. 

The upgrades are supported by Nippon Steel’s commitment to invest US$11 billion by the end of 2028, U. S. Steel said.