Big River Steel Works broke ground in November on a $1.9 billion direct reduced iron (DRI) plant at its Big River Steel Works complex in Mississippi County, Ark. The project is part of Nippon Steel’s broader $11 billion U.S. investment commitment.
Japan-based Nippon Steel acquired U.S. Steel on June 18, 2025, buying 100 percent of the company for $14.9 billion. So, U.S. Steel now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of Nippon Steel, though it retains its name and headquarters in Pittsburgh, Pa.
The new plant will use natural gas to convert Minnesota iron ore pellets into high-quality sponge iron/DRI, which is then fed hot directly into electric arc furnaces to cut carbon emissions and electrical usage. The project is expected to create about 2,000 construction jobs and 200 full-time operational jobs.
Construction is scheduled to begin in late 2026 with preliminary site preparation underway.
Mississippi County, Ark., is the nation’s largest steel-producing county in the country and is home to several major electric arc furnace steel mills and related processing facilities. Other steel and pipe companies in the county located on the Mississippi River north of Memphis include Big River Steel, Nucor Steel Arkansas, Nucor-Yamato Steel, Hybar and Atlas Tube.
