JSW Steel USA plans to temporarily idle its hot-rolling mill and electric arc furnace in Ohio and is putting its pipe mill in Baytown, Texas, on care and maintenance mode as a result of slowing demand due to the coronavirus pandemic.
CEO Mr. John Hritz said, “The hot mill and EAF at Mingo Junction is expected to be temporarily idled in mid-April for about four weeks as the company completes planned capital expenditure projects related to a modernization of the EAF and general maintenance”.
He added,” The pipe mill at Baytown will be shifted to care and maintenance from mid-May onward. The company plans to complete several maintenance projects, with the restart of production dependent on an improvement in market demand”.
Mr. Hritz said, “JSW expects to continue hot-rolling activities at its Baytown, Texas, plate mill as it completes the remaining activities related to cold commissioning of the first phase of the company’s $260 million plate mill modernization project. We will continue operating the plate processing and shipping facilities to make sure all customer deliveries are met on time”.
The company has issued Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) notices to employees as it will temporarily lay off certain employees in April and May.
He further added, “We expect to call back many employees who are being laid off when we restart operations at Mingo Junction and Baytown in May and June, respectively”.
Source: S & P Global Platts
