Cleveland-Cliffs is investing $1 billion to modernize its Middletown Works steelmaking facility in Ohio, including upgrades and a planned rebuild of the site’s blast furnace as part of a broader project focused on production efficiency and emissions reduction.
The investment will be funded equally by Cleveland-Cliffs and a $500 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). The project is expected to extend the operating life of Middletown Works while maintaining its existing steelmaking capacity.
The modernization will include upgrades to the blast furnace, advanced material-handling infrastructure, and AI-enabled process controls. Cleveland-Cliffs also plans to construct a cogeneration facility that will capture blast furnace gas and use it to generate electricity and steam for the plant.
The company expects the cogeneration system to reduce Middletown Works’ reliance on purchased electricity and natural gas while lowering greenhouse gas emissions associated with the facility’s operations.
The project is expected to begin in 2026, with the blast furnace rebuild scheduled for completion in the first quarter of 2030. Cleveland-Cliffs anticipates that construction will support approximately 2,500 jobs while maintaining about 2,500 existing positions at Middletown Works.
Located in Middletown, Ohio, the integrated steelmaking facility produces approximately 3 million tons of raw steel annually. Its products primarily serve the automotive market, including applications requiring advanced high-strength steels.
Press release is available in its original form here.
