[SMM Iron & Steel] Cleveland-Cliffs Abandons Hydrogen Project for Coal-Based Blast Furnace

Published: Apr 1, 2026 11:56

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Cleveland-Cliffs officially confirmed in late March 2026 that it has abandoned plans to replace a traditional coal-based blast furnace at its Middletown Works in Ohio with a hydrogen-ready direct reduced iron (DRI) facility. Despite previously winning a $500 million federal grant for the project, the steelmaker has pivoted back to refurbishing its existing blast furnace infrastructure, citing economic feasibility and shifting energy priorities. This decision maintains the site's reliance on metallurgical coke and coal, highlighting the challenges facing the U.S. steel industry's transition toward "green steel" technologies.

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