Cleveland-Cliffs Lake Erie steel plant
From Global Energy Monitor
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Cleveland-Cliffs Lake Erie steel plant, also known as Lake Erie Works, US Steel Canada (predecessor), Stelco Lake Erie, is a steel plant in Nanticoke, Ontario, Canada that operates basic oxygen furnace (BOF) and blast furnace (BF) technology.
Location
The map below shows the exact location of the plant in Nanticoke, Ontario, Canada:
- Location: 2330 Regional Road #3, Nanticoke, Ontario, N0A 1L0, Canada
- Coordinates (WGS 84): 42.805448, -80.095313 (exact)
Background
The Stelco Lake Erie steel plant began operating in 1980. In 2007, US Steel Canada purchased Stelco, naming the Lake Erie plant to 'US Steel Canada'; ten years later in 2017, Bedrock Industries bought Stelco and reinstalled its original name. The plant was shut down briefly from 2009 to 2010. The plant is powered by the Sir Adam Beck Hydroelectric Power Stations grid near Niagara Falls.
Stelco operates a 1.2 km dock on Lake Erie to receive St. Lawrence dimension ships.[1]
In 2022, Stelco was sued by Anmar for $18 million over unpaid construction services at the Lake Erie plant.[2]
In 2023, Stelco threatened to move the steel plant operations out of the Lake Erie area if the city allowed for a housing development to be constructed in the area around the steelworks.[3]
Additionally in 2023, Stelco began seeking permission to fill its Nanticoke quarry with steelmaking waste, including dust, sludge and blast furnace slag.[4]
Worker Rights and Safety
The plant has had several employee lockouts, including in 2009-2010 due to a move to move all U.S. Steel operations back to the United States, and again in 2013 due to failed union negotiations.[5] In 2023, two workers were severely burned and one died from steam released by the coke oven while they were repairing steel cladding on the quench tower.[6] The air horn in the alarm had been removed for inspection.[7]
Transition
Stelco Lake Erie has reported $600 million CAD in investments and upgrades since 2000.[8]
In 2019, Stelco announced it would partner with DTE Energy to build a 65MW waste heat facility to use cleaner energy.[9]
In March 2023, made an agreement to test Utility’s eXERO™ technology, converting off-gasses into hydrogen.[10]
Ownership Tree
This ownership tree is part of the Global Energy Ownership Tracker, a project of Global Energy Monitor.
Plant Details
Table 1: General Plant Details
| Start date | Workforce size | Power source |
|---|---|---|
| 1980[11] | 1250[12] | hydroelectric grid centred around Niagara Falls at the Sir Adam Beck Hydroelectric Power Stations; 64W cogeneration waste heat recovery plant on site[12] |
Table 2: Ownership and Parent Company Information
| Parent company | Parent company PermID | Parent GEM entity ID | Owner | Owner company PermID | Owner GEM entity ID |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland-Cliffs Inc [100.0%] | 4295903753 [100.0%] | E100001000649 [100.0%] | Cleveland-Cliffs Inc [100%][13] | 4295903753 | E100001000649 [100%] |
Table 3: Process and Products
| Steel product category | Steel products | Steel sector end users | ISO 14001 | Main production equipment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| finished rolled[14][15] | cold rolled, tube, coated, hot rolled[14][15] | automotive, building and infrastructure, energy[15] | 2023-02-14[16] | BF; BOF |
Table 4: Plant-level Crude Steel Production Capacities (thousand tonnes per annum)
| Capacity operating status1 | Basic oxygen furnace steelmaking capacity | Nominal crude steel capacity (total) |
|---|---|---|
| operating | 2500[17][18] | 2500[17][18] |
Table 5: Plant-level Crude Iron Production Capacities (thousand tonnes per annum)
| Capacity operating status1 | Blast furnace capacity | Nominal iron capacity (total) |
|---|---|---|
| operating | 2400[19] | 2400[19] |
Table 6: Upstream Products Production Capacities (thousand tonnes per annum)
| Ferronickel | Sinter | Coke | Pellets |
|---|---|---|---|
| NF | NF | 650[19] | NF |
Table 7: Actual Plant-level Crude Steel Production by Year (thousand tonnes per annum)
| Year | BOF production | EAF production | Other/unknown steel production | Total (all routes) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | unknown | – | unknown | – |
| 2020 | unknown | – | unknown | – |
| 2021 | unknown | – | unknown | – |
| 2022 | unknown | – | unknown | – |
| 2023 | unknown | – | unknown | – |
| 2024 | –[20] | 1923[20] | –[20] | 1923[20] |
| 2024 | unknown | – | – | – |
Table 8: Actual Plant-level Crude Iron Production by Year (thousand tonnes per annum)
| Year | BF production | Total (all routes) |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 1955[21] | 1955[21] |
| 2020 | 1407[22] | 1407[22] |
| 2021 | 2170[23] | 2170[23] |
| 2022 | 2000[24] | 2000[24] |
| 2023 | 2400[25] | 2400[25] |
| 2024 | 2000[26] | 2000[26] |
Unit Details
Table 9: Blast Furnace Details
| Unit name | Status | Start date | Furnace manufacturer and model | Current size | Current capacity (ttpa) | Decarbonization technology | Most recent relining |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BF 1 | operating[21][27][28] | 1980[29] | Stelco; Paul Wurth (parts); Saint-Gobain (parts); contributions from the USSR and the Netherlands Hoogoven[30][31][31] | 2418.0 m3[24] | 2400[19] | In March 2023, announced plans to test Utility’s eXERO™ technology, converting off-gasses into hydrogen. Unclear if the blast furnace specifically is being tested.[32] | 2020-10-15[33] |
Table 10: Basic Oxygen Furnace Details
| Unit name | Status | Start date | Current capacity (ttpa) | Current size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| unknown BOF (1) | operating[18] | 1980[26] | 1250[18][17] | 245.0 tonnes[18][31][34] |
| unknown BOF (2) | operating[18] | 1980[26] | 1250[18][17] | 245.0 tonnes[18][31][34] |
Articles and Resources
Additional data
To access additional data, including an interactive map of steel plants, a downloadable dataset, and summary data, please visit the Global Iron and Steel Tracker on the Global Energy Monitor website.
References
- ↑ We're Back, Stelco, Retrieved on: Aug. 5, 2020
- ↑ Cameron, Grant (September 14, 2022). "Anmar suing Stelco for nearly $18M of alleged unpaid work". Daily Commercial News. Retrieved November 10, 2025.
- ↑ Antonacci, J.P. (July 24, 2025). "Part 2: Stelco has hinted it might leave if Nanticoke development proceeds". The Expositor. Retrieved November 10, 2025.
- ↑ "Stelco seeks permission to fill Nanticoke quarry with steelmaking waste". Rock to Road. January 24, 2025. Retrieved November 10, 2025.
- ↑ "Stelco Lake Erie Works". Wikipedia. Retrieved November 10, 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "'Wall of people' say goodbye to Gabriel Cabral. Hamilton worker died after Stelco incident: family | CBC News". CBC. Retrieved 2023-09-22.
- ↑ Tara Lindemann The Sachem. "Air horn removed for inspection after Stelco Lake Erie Works incident: report". Hamilton Spectator. Retrieved 2023-09-22.
- ↑ Our Facilities, Stelco, Retrieved on: Aug. 5, 2020
- ↑ "Stelco Announces Selection of Strategic Co-Generation Partner". Stelco. 2019-06-06. Retrieved 2021-10-13.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ ndotlic (2023-03-24). "Utility Partners with Stelco for the Decarbonization of Integrated Steelmaking - Industrial Decarbonization Without Electrolysis | Utility Global". Industrial Decarbonization Without Electrolysis | Utility Global. Retrieved 2023-09-22.
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20220112121535/https://www.stelco.com/about-us/our-facilities. Archived from the original on 2022-01-12.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ 12.0 12.1 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stelco_Lake_Erie_Works.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ https://www.clevelandcliffs.com/news/news-releases/detail/643/cleveland-cliffs-announces-the-acquisition-of-stelco.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ 14.0 14.1 https://web.archive.org/web/20220126182949/https://www.stelco.com/our-products/specifications. Archived from the original on 2022-01-26.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 https://web.archive.org/web/20220108113339/https://www.stelco.com/our-products/industries. Archived from the original on 2022-01-08.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ (PDF) https://web.archive.org/web/20230401032848/https://www.stelco.com/sites/default/files/2023-03/60714-Certificate-14FEB2023.pdf. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2023-04-01.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 (PDF) https://web.archive.org/web/20211202155801/https://www.stelco.com/sites/default/files/2020-07/LEW%202019%20Toxics%20Reduction%20Annual%20Report%20%28Public%29.pdf. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2021-12-02.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 18.3 18.4 18.5 18.6 18.7 https://imis.aist.org/store/detail.aspx?id=PR-RU2023-1.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 19.3 (PDF) https://web.archive.org/web/20220120005735/https://www.aist.org/AIST/aist/AIST/Conferences_Exhibitions/galvatech/USSC_LEW_Plant_Brochure.pdf. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2022-01-20.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 20.3 (PDF) https://www.clevelandcliffs.com/investors/sec-filings/annual-reports/content/0000764065-25-000074/0000764065-25-000074.pdf.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 https://imis.aist.org/store/detail.aspx?id=PR-RU2020-5.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ 22.0 22.1 https://imis.aist.org/store/detail.aspx?id=PR-RU2021-7.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ 23.0 23.1 https://imis.aist.org/store/detail.aspx?id=PR-RU2020-2.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ 24.0 24.1 24.2 https://imis.aist.org/store/detail.aspx?id=PR-RU2023-5.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ 25.0 25.1 https://imis.aist.org/store/detail.aspx?id=PR-RU2024-5.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ 26.0 26.1 26.2 26.3 "AIST North America BF Roundup 2025". Archived from the original on 2025-10-07.
- ↑ https://www.stelco.com/news/were-back;AIST_COKE_2020.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ https://imis.aist.org/store/detail.aspx?id=PR-RU2020-7.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20190409053704/http://www.company-histories.com:80/Stelco-Inc-Company-History.html. Archived from the original on 2019-04-09.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ (PDF) https://web.archive.org/web/20221128015619/https://www.ceramicsrefractories.saint-gobain.com/sites/hps-mac3-cma-pcr/files/assetbank_media/Iron---Steel-Blast-Furnace-brochure-2022-web-2274441.pdf. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2022-11-28.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ 31.0 31.1 31.2 31.3 (PDF) https://web.archive.org/web/20170813103142/https://macsphere.mcmaster.ca/bitstream/11375/18710/1/Loschiavo_Micheal_A_1984_Geo4C6.pdf. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-08-13.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20230325051428/https://utilityglobal.com/utility-partners-with-stelco-for-the-decarbonization-of-integrated-steelmaking/. Archived from the original on 2023-03-25.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ https://www.davisindex.com/stelco-to-restart-lake-erie-blast-furnace-in-q3/, https://www.aist.org/news/steel-news/2020/october/12-16-october-2020/after-late-summer-outage,-stelco-bf-resumes-hot-me https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/stelco-provides-further-details-on-blast-furnace-upgrade-project-809288327.html, https://www.davisindex.com/stelco-to-restart-lake-erie-blast-furnace-in-q3/, https://www.aist.org/news/steel-news/2020/october/12-16-october-2020/after-late-summer-outage,-stelco-bf-resumes-hot-me.
{{cite web}}: Check|url=value (help); Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ 34.0 34.1 https://web.archive.org/web/20220124203847/https://www.stelco.com/news/were-back. Archived from the original on 2022-01-24.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help)
