11 February 2009Essar Steel Minnesota awards grading contracts
The $1.65 billion Essar Steel Minnesota taconite, direct-reduced iron and steelmaking project continues to move ahead.
Essar Steel Minnesota has awarded contracts to the Boldt company and Veit company for grading work at the plant site near Nashwauk.
The contract is one of several that will be awarded for site grading where Essar Steel Minnesota’s crusher, concentrator and pellet plants will be built. Site grading is expected to take about five to six months.
Boldt and Veit crews will mobilize shortly and begin grading work.
“Essar considers this a big step forward on construction,” said Debra McGovern, of Essar Steel Minnesota Governmental and Public Affairs.
Essar Steel has reaffirmed its commitment to honor all project labor agreements, said McGovern.
When complete, the Essar Steel Minnesota facility will be the only mine-to-steelmaking facility in North America. About 2,000 construction workers will be required to build the facility, which will employ 500 permanent workers.