The United States Steel Corporation (US Steel) has announced that blast furnace No. 14 at its Gary Works plant in Indiana has resumed operation after completing a $350 million furnace repair. The company announced the resumption of operation on September 3.
Blast Furnace No. 14 is the largest blast furnace at the Gary Works plant and the largest production site of US Steel. It is capable of producing more than 2 million net tons of pig iron per year and uses iron ore pellets at the company's ore plants in Minnesota..
The project included the replacement of the refractory lining of the furnace and the restoration of critical systems, as well as maintenance work on furnace gas, cooling water, lifting and furnace systems. According to the company, the renovation took more than 1 million working hours, which amounted to about 1,000 contractors per day and was completed with zero injuries within a few days.
David B. Burritt, President and CEO of US Steel, said: "The return of Blast Furnace No. 14 is a great example of disciplined execution at US Steel and a testament to the skill and dedication and continued attention to safety demonstrated by our employees, contractors and partners."
The company's board approved full funding for the renovation in December 2025, at the time describing it as critical maintenance necessary for Gary Works to continue meeting customer obligations. The project is part of Nippon Steel Corporation's commitment to invest $11 billion in US Steel by the end of 2028.
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