US Steel (USS) plans to restart operations at the Keetac iron ore mine and pellet plant in Keewatin. The unit was indefinitely idled in May 2020 amid a drop in iron and steel demand because of the pandemic, as reported by Davis Index. The plant has an annual pellet production capacity of 6mn mt.
The company decided to recommence after a gradual recovery in demand in the steel market. Meanwhile, the American Iron and Steel Institute has stated that blast furnace capacity utilization rate has increased to 70.4pc, compared to 51.1pc in May.