Algoma steel plant

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Algoma Steel plant, also known as Algomatubes, Essar Steel Algoma (predecessor), and Old Steelco (predecessor), is a 2800 thousand tonnes per annum (TTPA) blast furnace (BF) and basic oxygen furnace (BOF) steel plant operating in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada.

Location

The map below shows the location of the steel plant in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada.

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  • Location: 105 West Street, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada, P6A 7B4[1]
  • Coordinates (WGS 84): 46.518984, -84.374068 (exact)

Background

Algoma Steel Inc., the operator of Algoma, is owned by Tenaris, a member of the Techint Group.[2][3][4] Tenaris is a global supplier of steel for oil and gas pipeline infrastructure.[2] Algoma is the second largest steel producer in Canada and the largest employer in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada. A 2017 report by media outlet The Star showed that while Algoma has received over 78 million CAD in government funding, it still owes over 30 million CAD in unpaid property tax and interest, and has been fined 159,750 CAD in the past for environmental non-compliance.[5]

Transition

In May 2021, Algoma announced it was 'exploring the possibility' of transitioning to electric-arc steelmaking technology, which would cut 70% of the plant's carbon emissions.[6] In 2022, the company started the transition and began installation of two electric arc furnaces to replace its blast furnaces. The EAFs are scheduled to start operation in 2024, with the blast furnaces set to be shut down as soon as the electric grid allows (as early as 2024 or as late as 2030).[7]

Government Investment

In July 2019, the Canadian Government provided $16 million (CAD) to Algoma from the government's Strategic Innovation Fund.[8]

Environmental and Social Justice

In March 2019, a power outage led to a leak of around 6.5 million liters of oil into the St. Mary's river. The company did not alert the public in the days immediately following the spill.[9] There is an ongoing investigation surrounding this incident and charges against the company are still a possibility. [10]

Low-emissions/green steelmaking

This steel plant is associated with a green steel project tracked in the Green Steel Tracker. Details about the project are included below.

  • Company: Algoma Steel
  • Stated company climate target for 2030: Not stated
  • Stated company climate target for 2050: carbon neutrality
  • Project name: N/A
  • Project website: N/A
  • Location: Canada
  • Coordinates: 46.518984, -84.374068 (TBC)
  • Project scale: full scale
  • Technology category: EAF
    • Specific technology: BF/BOF to scrap-EAF conversion
    • Hydrogen type: N/A
  • Year online: 2024
  • Size (m USD): 562
  • Steel production capacity (Mtpa): 3.7
  • Iron production capacity (Mtpa): N/A
  • Hydrogen capacity generation (MW): N/A
  • Carbon capture capacity (Mtpa CO2): N/A
  • Partners: N/A
  • Date of announcement: 07/05/2021


All references for the above data are available in the Green Steel Tracker.


Plant Details

Table 1: General Plant Details

Plant status Start date Workforce size
operating[11] 1901[12] 2700[13]

Table 2: Ownership and Parent Company Information

Parent company Parent company PermID Owner Owner company PermID
Algoma Steel Inc [100%][14] 5021594646 [100%] Algoma Steel Inc[15] 5021594646

Table 3: Process and Products

Steel product category Steel products Steel sector end users ISO 14001 Main production equipment Detailed production equipment
semi-finished; finished rolled[16] hot rolled products, cold rolled products, sheet, plate[12] automotive; building and infrastructure; energy; steel packaging; tools and machinery; transport[17][12] 2021[18] blast furnace (BF) and basic oxygen furnace (BOF)[12] coking plant (3 batteries (battery #7, 57 ovens, began in 1959), (battery #8, 60 ovens, began in 1967), (battery #9, 60 ovens, began in 1979))); 2 BOF (began in 1972 and 1973)[19][20][21][22][16]

Table 4: Crude Steel Production Capacities (thousand tonnes per annum):

Basic oxygen furnace steelmaking capacity Nominal crude steel capacity (total)
2800 TTPA[23] 2800 TTPA

Table 5: Crude Iron Production Capacities (thousand tonnes per annum):

Blast furnace capacity Nominal iron capacity (total)
2690 TTPA[24] 2690 TTPA

Table 6: Upstream Products Production Capacities (thousand tonnes per annum)

Coke
>0 TTPA

Table 7: Actual Crude Steel Production by Year (thousand tonnes per annum):

Year BOF Production EAF Production OHF Production Total (all routes)
2021 3200 TTPA[25] 3200 TTPA

Table 8: Actual Crude Iron Production by Year (thousand tonnes per annum):

Year BF Production DRI Production Total (all routes)
2020 1889 TTPA[26] 1889 TTPA
2021 2179 TTPA[27] 2179 TTPA


Blast Furnace Details

Table 9: Blast Furnace Details:

Unit name Status Start date Stop date Current size Current capacity
7 operating[24] 1975[24] 2030[28] 2478 m³[27] 2690 TTPA[24]
6 mothballed[24] 1953[24] 2008[29] 1270 m³[30] 1000 TTPA[24]

Articles and Resources

Additional data

To access additional data, including an interactive map of steel power plants, a downloadable dataset, and summary data, please visit the Global Steel Plant Tracker and Global Blast Furnace Tracker on the Global Energy Monitor website.

  1. https://web.archive.org/web/20220112172003/https://www.algoma.com/contact-us/. Archived from the original on 2022-01-12. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  2. 2.0 2.1 Tenaris around the world, Tenaris, Retrieved on: Aug. 5, 2020
  3. Tenaris, Techint Group, Retrieved on: Aug. 5, 2020
  4. Algoma Steel Inc. Emerges, Algoma Steel Inc., Nov. 30, 2018, Retrieved on: Aug. 5, 2020
  5. Bruser, David (2017-11-30). "Dirty Dollars". thestar.com. Retrieved 2021-10-13.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  6. Helwig, David (2021-05-25). "Algoma Steel's bold plan to become Canada's greenest steelmaker". SooToday.com. Retrieved 2021-10-13.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  7. "Developments in the North American Iron and Steel Industry: 2021" (PDF). AIST. April 2022. {{cite web}}: line feed character in |title= at position 26 (help)CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  8. Sault tube mill lands $16 million from feds, Northern Ontario Business, Jul. 26, 2019, Retrieved on: Aug. 5, 2020
  9. "Power outage at Algoma Steel in 2019 caused 6.5-M liter leak into St. Mary's | SaultOnline.com". saultonline.com. Retrieved 2023-04-24.
  10. "Documents provide insight into cause of 2022 oil spill at Algoma Steel". Northern Ontario. 2023-01-24. Retrieved 2023-04-24.
  11. https://web.archive.org/web/20220111071745/https://algoma.com/. Archived from the original on 2022-01-11. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  12. 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 https://web.archive.org/web/20220113200740/https://www.algoma.com/algoma-steel-inc-emerges/. Archived from the original on 2022-01-13. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  13. https://www.globenewswire.com/en/news-release/2022/06/23/2468486/0/en/Algoma-Steel-Distributes-Over-150-Million-in-Employee-Profit-Sharing-Program.html. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  14. https://web.archive.org/web/20220111171905/https://www.algoma.com/algoma-steel-and-legato-merger-corp-sign-definitive-merger-agreement/. Archived from the original on 2022-01-11. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  15. https://web.archive.org/web/20211205144126/https://www.algoma.com/about-algoma/. Archived from the original on 2021-12-05. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  16. 16.0 16.1 https://web.archive.org/web/20220120012958/https://www.algoma.com/about-algoma/corporate-profile/. Archived from the original on 2022-01-20. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  17. https://web.archive.org/web/20220316153415/https://algoma.com/our-products/industries/. Archived from the original on 2022-03-16. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  18. (PDF) https://web.archive.org/web/20220319093134/https://www.algoma.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/C0107464-EM11.pdf?_t=1625770375. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2022-03-19. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  19. "2020 AIST Basic Oxygen Furnace Roundup". Association for Iron & Steel Technology. January 2020. {{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  20. "2020 AIST North American Blast Furnace Roundup". Association for Iron & Steel Technology. March 2020. {{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  21. https://web.archive.org/web/20200613071627/https://www.algoma.com/history/. Archived from the original on 2020-06-13. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  22. "2020 AIST Coke Oven Roundup". Association for Iron & Steel Technology. January 2020. {{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  23. https://web.archive.org/web/20221202220554/https://ir.algoma.com/news-releases/news-release-details/algoma-steel-announce-fiscal-2022-fourth-quarter-and-full-year. Archived from the original on 2022-12-02. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  24. 24.0 24.1 24.2 24.3 24.4 24.5 24.6 https://ir.algoma.com/static-files/162ff601-a279-4504-833a-f57ab2d00b03. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  25. "2022 AIST Basic Oxygen Furnace Roundup". Association for Iron & Steel Technology. April 2022. {{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  26. "2021 AIST North American Blast Furnace Roundup". Association for Iron & Steel Technology. March 2021. {{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  27. 27.0 27.1 "2022 AIST North American Blast Furnace Roundup". Association for Iron & Steel Technology. March 2022. {{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  28. https://web.archive.org/web/20211111164459/https://ir.algoma.com/news-releases/news-release-details/algoma-steel-announces-final-investment-decision-electric-arc. Archived from the original on 2021-11-11. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  29. https://www.sootoday.com/local-news/update-on-essar-steel-algoma-blast-furnace-126182. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  30. https://www.flickr.com/photos/68678468@N06/19644694195. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)