Hyundai‑POSCO Louisiana Steel selects Danieli for integrated steel plant project in the USA

HYUNDAI‑POSCO Louisiana Steel LLC has selected Danieli as its technology partner for the construction of a new integrated steel plant in Louisiana, USA. The new facility will produce high‑quality hot‑rolled slabs, primarily intended for low‑carbon, high value‑added automotive steel grades for the North American market.

The contracts awarded to Danieli includes the supply of two electric arc furnaces with secondary metallurgy, two thick slab casters, and two slab reheating furnaces. In addition, the ENERGIRON® consortium by Tenova and Danieli has been selected as the supplier for the direct reduction plant.

The ENERGIRON® Direct Reduction Plant (DRP), jointly developed by Tenova and Danieli, will be the second of its kind in the USA, with a nominal capacity of 2.5 mtpy of hot and cold Direct Reduced Iron (DRI). Featuring Zero Reformer ENERGIRON® technology, the plant will produce DRI with high metallization and controlled carbon content. Designed to be hydrogen future‑ready and equipped with carbon capture technology, the DRP represents one of the most sustainable steelmaking solutions currently available on the market.

The meltshop will feed the casting area at a production rate of 2.88 Mtpy. It will include two electric arc furnaces equipped with Zerobucket ECS® continuous scrap charging, allowing flexible operation with charge mixes ranging from 100% scrap to hot and cold DRI. Secondary metallurgy will consist of two twin-ladle furnaces and one twin RH‑OB system, supported by a complete material‑handling system and fume‑treatment plants for both meltshops.

The two slab continuous casters incorporate Danieli’s latest 3Q technologies and are designed to produce conventional thick slabs for quality grades, including low‑carbon‑emissions steel. Special attention has been given to mould‑level stability and surface quality, meeting the stringent requirements of automotive applications.

Two walking‑beam reheating furnaces, each rated at 280 tph, complete the production line. The furnaces are optimized for low fuel consumption and high operational flexibility, and are already designed to operate with natural‑gas–hydrogen mixtures up to 100%, ensuring compliance with future decarbonization targets.

With this project, Hyundai and Danieli further strengthen their strategic partnership, highlighting a shared commitment to advanced and sustainable steelmaking. HYUNDAI‑POSCO Louisiana Steel LLC—established by Hyundai Motor Group in collaboration with POSCO—will operate one of the world’s first EAF‑based, fully integrated steel mills dedicated to automotive steel production in the USA.

The project also confirms Danieli’s position as the preferred technology partner for leading steelmakers worldwide, thanks to proven solutions that combine the lowest environmental footprint with high operational reliability. Danieli steelmaking technologies consistently deliver reduced OpEx, low‑carbon emissions, and superior product quality—key factors in the production of demanding automotive grades.