United States Steel Corporation’s $3 billion advanced steelmaking facility in Osceola, Mississippi County, Arkansas, built adjacent to its existing Big River Steel operations, represents the largest single economic development project in the state’s history. Known collectively with the neighboring site as Big River Steel Works, the facility features two state-of-the-art electric arc furnaces (EAFs) capable of producing 3 million tons of advanced steel annually, along with North America’s first endless casting and rolling line technology designed to maximize energy efficiency. The massive capital investment has generated approximately 900 high-paying permanent jobs with average salaries exceeding $100,000, alongside thousands of construction roles, further cementing Mississippi County’s status as a leading national hub for steel production. Additionally this project alongside the Fairfield facility in Alabama will ensure quality steel supply to builders across the US.
The plant’s progress and broader operations have also been framed by national strategic developments involving U.S. Steel, including its proposed acquisition by Japan’s Nippon Steel, which aims to further enhance technological capabilities and capital investment across U.S. operations. Local leaders and state officials highlight the Osceola expansion as a cornerstone of Northeast Arkansas’s industrial growth, backed by significant infrastructure investments and targeted recycling tax incentives aimed at expanding domestic, sustainable steel manufacturing.
February 10, 2022
A groundbreaking ceremony was held recently for a new $3 billion US Steel Plant in Mississippi County. Those in attendance included David Burritt, the U.S. Steel President and CEO; Governor Asa Hutchinson; along with other local and state officials. The event took place at the Big River Steel campus, which is owned by the U.S. Steel. At the event Governor Hutchinson mentioned that this new plant was the largest economic development in the history of Arkansas and a game changer, which would have a lasting impact on the future of the state.
Hutchinson was also optimistic about the possibility of the US Steel Plant project attracting automotive plants to the state, as steel is an essential component needed for the construction of automobiles, as well as other appliances, and construction projects. Burritt was also quite keen on this possibility, when he was asked about it. He said it would be beneficial having a partner or customer in close proximity, as this would lower transportation costs and improve collaboration.
$3 billion US Steel mill project to be developed in Osceola
New US Steel Plant to produce 75% less carbon emissions and get LEED certified
Burritt shared more details with the media about the environmental benefits of the new US Steel Plant and other great features of the project. Burritt pointed out that the new mill would be high tech and state-of-the-art; designed to produce 75% less carbon emissions than the regular traditional mill. He said the company intends to get the mill LEED certified and also has plans of eliminating carbon emissions by 2040.
The new US Steel Plant will be used in combination with the second mill on the Big River Steel campus and these two plants have a combined capacity of 6.3 million tons per year. According to Burritt the new steel plant will provide technologically and environmentally responsible employment opportunities for the residents of the state. These jobs will consist of 700 full-time and 200 contract positions, with annual salaries above $100,000; several other supply chain and temporary jobs in construction will also be made available through this project. Construction on the new steel plant will be rounded up by 2024.
Project Factsheet
Project Name: Big River 2 (BR2) Expansion (part of Big River Steel Works)
Owner / Operator: United States Steel Corporation (U. S. Steel)
Location: Osceola, Mississippi County, Arkansas
Status: Operational (fully integrated into the Big River Steel Works mega-site)
Capital and Economic Footprint
- Total Investment: $3.0 Billion (largest single capital investment project in Arkansas history)
- Direct Permanent Jobs: 900 high-wage positions (average salary of $100,000)
- Construction Jobs: 3,000 workers at peak construction phase
Regional Impact: Expands U.S. Steel’s overall site footprint in Mississippi County to 6 million tons of total site capacity, supporting nearly 5,000 regional direct and indirect jobs.
Technical Specifications and Capacity
- Annual Capacity: 3.0 Million Tons of advanced steel per year (doubles total Big River site capacity to 6M tons/year)
- Primary Steelmaking Equipment: 2 state-of-the-art Electric Arc Furnaces (EAFs)
- Casting and Rolling Tech: North America’s first Endless Steel Processing (ESP) line—combining continuous casting and hot rolling to transform liquid steel into finished coil in under 30 minutes
- Finishing Capabilities: Continuous Galvanizing Lines (CGL), Non-Grain Oriented (NGO) Electrical Steel Line, and continuous paint lines
Target Products and End Markets
- Key Offerings: High-strength automotive steel, ultra-thin lightweight electrical steel (InduX™), and low-emission steel (verdeX®)
- Primary Sectors: Automotive (EVs), appliances, solar infrastructure, construction, and power generation transformers
Sustainability and Environmental Benchmarks
- EAF Emissions Profile: Up to 70–80% reduction in CO2 emissions compared to traditional blast furnace operations.
- Energy Efficiency: ESP technology reduces overall energy consumption by eliminating the need to reheat steel slabs before rolling.
- Certifications: Operating under ResponsibleSteel™ certification frameworks.
Project Team
Owner and Primary Developer
United States Steel Corporation (U. S. Steel): Project owner and operator.
Primary Equipment and Technology Suppliers
- Primetals Technologies: Engineering supplier responsible for North America’s first Endless Strip Production (Arvedi ESP) casting and rolling line, continuous galvanizing lines, and advanced automation systems.
- SMS group: Major plant equipment engineering supplier involved in electric arc furnace (EAF) and secondary metallurgy technology across the Big River Steel complex.
Energy, Power and Utility Infrastructure
- Entergy Arkansas: Primary electricity provider supplying dedicated high-voltage electrical grid infrastructure and power connections to run the high-capacity EAFs.
- Cypress Creek Renewables: Renewable energy partner constructing dedicated utility-scale solar and battery storage projects to supply clean power directly to the facility.
Public and Government Partners
- State of Arkansas (AEDC): Economic development partner providing structural recycling tax credits and infrastructure grant funding.
- Mississippi County Economic Development Authority: Local agency handling site selection, municipal zoning, and community incentive structures.
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