US Steel Corp. celebrated the groundbreaking of its $1.2 billion investment at its Clairton Works, Pennsylvania coke plant Wednesday. The project includes construction of two technologically and environmentally advanced coke batteries that will replace two of the facility's older battery groups, and will also rehabilitate the remaining 10 coke batteries.
US Steel CEO, John Surma, told press, along with the 200 people at the groundbreaking ceremony, "The advances in technology comprehended in this plan will put us on a path for consistent and reliable coke production, and importantly, for improved environmental performance."
The project will not increase coke production at the Clairton Works plant but it will reduce its potential pollution by about 30 percent, by eliminating 235 of the 816 coke ovens.
The Clairton Works plant is the largest coke-producing plant in the United States, producing 4.7 million tons of coke annually.