According to local news reports this week, a partnership between Republic Steel and Minnesota-based ERP Iron Ore will result in the restart of a blast furnace that has been idle since 2016.
The partnership, called Lorain Pig Iron LLC, expects the furnace to be in operation by the end of this year. The furnace has an annual production capacity of 1 million tons of pig iron. Lorain Pig Iron LLC is also reportedly considering the restart of a second furnace at the mill.
About 200 workers were laid off when the furnace was idled two years ago, although the United Steelworkers union told local media it has not received any details about workers being recalled to the mill.