Algoma steel plant

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Algoma steel plant, also known as Essar Steel Algoma (predecessor), Old Steelco (predecessor), Algomatubes, is a steel plant in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada that operates blast furnace (BF), basic oxygen furnace (BOF), and electric arc furnace (EAF) technology.

Location

The map below shows the exact location of the plant in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada:

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  • Location: 105 West Street, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada, P6A 7B4
  • Coordinates (WGS 84): 46.518984, -84.374068 (exact)

Background

Algoma is the second largest steel producer in Canada and the largest employer in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada. A 2017 report by media outlet The Star showed that while Algoma has received over 78 million CAD in government funding, it still owes over 30 million CAD in unpaid property tax and interest, and has been fined 159,750 CAD in the past for environmental non-compliance.[1]

Transition

In May 2021, Algoma announced it was 'exploring the possibility' of transitioning to electric-arc steelmaking technology, which would cut 70% of the plant's carbon emissions.[2] In 2022, the company started the transition and began installation of two electric arc furnaces to replace its blast furnaces. The EAFs are scheduled to start operation in 2024, with the blast furnaces set to be shut down as soon as the electric grid allows (as early as 2024 or as late as 2030).[3]

Government Investment

In July 2019, the Canadian Government provided $16 million (CAD) to Algoma from the government's Strategic Innovation Fund.[4]

Environmental and Social Justice

In March 2019, a power outage led to a leak of around 6.5 million liters of oil into the St. Mary's river. The company did not alert the public in the days immediately following the spill.[5] There is an ongoing investigation surrounding this incident and charges against the company are still a possibility. [6]

Low-emissions/green steelmaking

This steel plant is associated with a green steel project tracked in the Green Steel Tracker. Details about the project are included below.

Table 1: Green Steel Project Details

All references for the above data are available in the Green Steel Tracker.
Project 1
Project name Not available
Company Algoma Steel Inc
Company has climate goals? Yes
Location Sault Ste. Marie, Canada
Project website Not available
Project scale Full scale
Project status Construction
Year to be online 2026
Technology to be used BF-BOF to EAF
Technology details BF/BOF to scrap-EAF conversion
Iron production capacity (million tonnes per year) Not applicable
Steel production capacity (million tonnes per year) 3
CO2 capture (million tonnes CO2 per year) Not applicable
Hydrogen generation capacity (MW) Not applicable
Investment size (m USD) 562
Date of announcement 2021-07-05

Plant Details

Table 2: General Plant Details

Start date Workforce size Power source
1901[7] 2700[8] Ontario electricity grid; Lake Superior Power project upgrade with gas-fired turbines[9]

Table 3: Ownership and Parent Company Information

Parent company Parent company PermID Parent company GEM ID Owner Owner company PermID Owner company GEM ID
Algoma Steel Group Inc 5021594646 E100000001817 Algoma Steel Group Inc[10] 5021594646 E100000001817

Table 4: Process and Products

Steel product category Steel products Steel sector end users ISO 14001 Main production equipment
semi-finished, finished rolled[11] cold rolled, sheet, plate, hot rolled[7] automotive, building and infrastructure, energy, steel packaging, tools and machinery, transport[12][7] 2024[13] BF; BOF; EAF

Table 5: Plant-level Crude Steel Production Capacities (thousand tonnes per annum)

1Please see our Frequently Asked Questions page for an explanation of the different capacity operating statuses.
Capacity operating status1 Basic oxygen furnace steelmaking capacity Electric arc furnace steelmaking capacity Nominal crude steel capacity (total)
construction – 3700[14][15] 3700[14][15]
operating pre-retirement 3200[16][17] – 3200[18][17]

Table 6: Plant-level Crude Iron Production Capacities (thousand tonnes per annum)

1Please see our Frequently Asked Questions page for an explanation of the different capacity operating statuses.
Capacity operating status1 Blast furnace capacity Nominal iron capacity (total)
mothballed 1000[19] 1000[19]
operating pre-retirement 2690[19] 2690[19]

Table 7: Upstream Products Production Capacities (thousand tonnes per annum)

Ferronickel Sinter Coke Pellets
NF NF >0[20] NF

Table 8: Actual Plant-level Crude Steel Production by Year (thousand tonnes per annum)

Year BOF production Other/unknown steel production Total (all routes)
2019 unknown unknown –
2020 unknown unknown –
2021 unknown unknown –
2022 unknown unknown –
2023 2085[21] –[21] 2085[21]

Table 9: Actual Plant-level Crude Iron Production by Year (thousand tonnes per annum)

Year BF production Total (all routes)
2019 1979[22] 1979[23]
2020 1889[24] 1889[25]
2021 2179[26] 2179[27]
2022 1900[28] 1900[29]
2023 2000[30] 2000[30]

Unit Details

Table 10: Blast Furnace Details

Unit name Status Start date Retired date Furnace manufacturer and model Current size Current capacity (ttpa) Decarbonization technology Most recent relining
BF 6 mothballed[19] 1953[31] – Arthur G. McKee and Company[31] 1270.0 m3[31] 1000[19] unknown 1980-11[32]
BF 7 operating pre-retirement[19] 1975[33] 2030[14] Ashmore Benson Pease Company[34] 2478.0 m3[35] 2690[19] unknown 2007[19]

Table 11: Electric Arc Furnace Details

Unit name Status Announced date Construction date Start date Furnace manufacturer and model Current capacity (ttpa) Current size (tonnes)
unknown EAF (1) construction[36] 2021-11[36] 2022[37] 2025[38] Danieli Digimelter[39][39] 1850[14][15] 250.0[40]
unknown EAF (2) construction[36] 2021-11[36] 2022[37] 2025[38] Danieli Digimelter[39][39] 1850[14][15] 250.0[40]

Table 12: Electric Arc Furnace Feedstock Details

Unit name Scrap-based % scrap % DRI % HBI % sponge iron (unknown if DRI or HBI) % basic/merchant pig iron % granulated pig iron % pig iron (unknown if basic/merchant or granulated % other iron
unknown EAF (1) yes[41] 100[41] unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown
unknown EAF (2) yes[41] 100[41] unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown

Table 13: Basic Oxygen Furnace Details

Unit name Status Current capacity (ttpa) Current size
unknown BOF (1) operating pre-retirement[42] 1600[43][17] 232.0 m3[44][45]
unknown BOF (2) operating pre-retirement[46] 1600[47][17] 232.0 m3[48][45]

Articles and Resources

Additional data

To access additional data, including an interactive map of steel power plants, a downloadable dataset, and summary data, please visit the Global Iron and Steel Tracker on the Global Energy Monitor website.

References

  1. ↑ Bruser, David (2017-11-30). "Dirty Dollars". thestar.com. Retrieved 2021-10-13.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  2. ↑ Helwig, David (2021-05-25). "Algoma Steel's bold plan to become Canada's greenest steelmaker". SooToday.com. Retrieved 2021-10-13.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  3. ↑ "Developments in the North American Iron and Steel Industry: 2021" (PDF). AIST. April 2022. {{cite web}}: line feed character in |title= at position 26 (help)CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  4. ↑ Sault tube mill lands $16 million from feds, Northern Ontario Business, Jul. 26, 2019, Retrieved on: Aug. 5, 2020
  5. ↑ "Power outage at Algoma Steel in 2019 caused 6.5-M liter leak into St. Mary's | SaultOnline.com". saultonline.com. Retrieved 2023-04-24.
  6. ↑ "Documents provide insight into cause of 2022 oil spill at Algoma Steel". Northern Ontario. 2023-01-24. Retrieved 2023-04-24.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 https://web.archive.org/web/20220113200740/https://www.algoma.com/algoma-steel-inc-emerges/. Archived from the original on 2022-01-13. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  8. ↑ https://www.globenewswire.com/en/news-release/2022/06/23/2468486/0/en/Algoma-Steel-Distributes-Over-150-Million-in-Employee-Profit-Sharing-Program.html. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  9. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20230625161557/https://www.recyclingtoday.com/news/algoma-eaf-project-update-fiscal-2023-earnings/. Archived from the original on 2023-06-25. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  10. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20211205144126/https://www.algoma.com/about-algoma/. Archived from the original on 2021-12-05. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  11. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20220120012958/https://www.algoma.com/about-algoma/corporate-profile/. Archived from the original on 2022-01-20. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  12. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20220316153415/https://algoma.com/our-products/industries/. Archived from the original on 2022-03-16. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  13. ↑ https://algoma.com/our-products/certifications/. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4 https://web.archive.org/web/20211111164459/https://ir.algoma.com/news-releases/news-release-details/algoma-steel-announces-final-investment-decision-electric-arc. Archived from the original on 2021-11-11. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 https://www.globenewswire.com/en/news-release/2021/11/11/2332532/0/en/Algoma-Steel-Announces-Final-Investment-Decision-for-Electric-Arc-Steelmaking.html. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  16. ↑ AIST_BOF_2023
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 https://web.archive.org/web/20220601213936/https://ir.algoma.com/news-releases/news-release-details/algoma-steel-announce-fiscal-2022-fourth-quarter-and-full-year. Archived from the original on 2022-06-01. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  18. ↑ AIST_BOF_2023
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 19.3 19.4 19.5 19.6 19.7 19.8 https://ir.algoma.com/static-files/162ff601-a279-4504-833a-f57ab2d00b03. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  20. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20240212201413/https://www.steelorbis.com/steel-news/latest-news/canadas-algoma-resumes-limited-production-at-three-coke-production-units-after-incident-1324741.htm. Archived from the original on 2024-02-12. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 https://ir.algoma.com/static-files/dc70abe9-2b90-4026-a14b-4825200df9d4. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  22. ↑ AIST_BF_2020
  23. ↑ AIST_BF_2020
  24. ↑ AIST_BF_2021
  25. ↑ AIST_BF_2021
  26. ↑ AIST_BF_2022
  27. ↑ AIST_BF_2022
  28. ↑ AIST_BF_2023
  29. ↑ AIST_BF_2023
  30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 https://imis.aist.org/store/detail.aspx?id=PR-RU2024-5. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 31.2 https://www.flickr.com/photos/68678468@N06/19644694195. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  32. ↑ (PDF) https://digital.library.mcgill.ca/images/hrcorpreports/pdfs/6/631795.pdf. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  33. ↑ https://www.facebook.com/groups/1561038727264008/posts/3991598124208044/?mibextid=HsNCOg. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  34. ↑ https://www.flickr.com/photos/68678468@N06/18197893033. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  35. ↑ AIST_BF_2023
  36. ↑ 36.0 36.1 36.2 36.3 https://www.recyclingtoday.com/article/algoma-steel-canada-earnings-eaf-recycling-profits/. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  37. ↑ 37.0 37.1 (PDF) https://www.aist.org/AIST/aist/AIST/Publications/Monthly/085_094_April-2022.pdf. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  38. ↑ 38.0 38.1 https://www.metalcenternews.com/editorial/current-news/algoma-eaf-project-remains-on-schedule/45523. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  39. ↑ 39.0 39.1 39.2 39.3 https://www.danieli.com/en/news-media/news/algoma-steel-selects-danieli-digimelter-full-transition-integrated-electrical-steelmaking_37_683.htm. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  40. ↑ 40.0 40.1 https://web.archive.org/web/20220928012150/https://www.recyclingtoday.com/article/algoma-selects-danieli-eaf-technology-supplier/. Archived from the original on 2022-09-28. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  41. ↑ 41.0 41.1 41.2 41.3 https://web.archive.org/web/20230703205442/https://www.northernontariobusiness.com/industry-news/manufacturing/algoma-steels-electric-arc-furnace-project-taking-shape-7168748. Archived from the original on 2023-07-03. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  42. ↑ AIST_BOF_2023
  43. ↑ AIST_BOF_2023
  44. ↑ AIST_BOF_2023
  45. ↑ 45.0 45.1 https://www.algoma.com/about-algoma/corporate-profile/ https://www.algoma.com/history/: https://www.algoma.com/about-algoma/corporate-profile/. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help); Missing or empty |title= (help)
  46. ↑ AIST_BOF_2023
  47. ↑ AIST_BOF_2023
  48. ↑ AIST_BOF_2023

Resources

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