Even through a harsh Iron Range winter, construction crews made substantial progress on Mesabi Metallics site, keeping project on track to commence commercial operations in Q1 2026
[NASHWAUK, MN] – Mesabi Metallics Company LLC (Mesabi Metallics) this week announced several construction milestones completed by hundreds of union laborers over the first quarter of 2025 in Nashwauk, Minnesota. The project is on track for completion in the first quarter of 2026 and will be Minnesota’s first new mine in 50 years. Photos/Video of the construction milestones 
can be downloaded here.
“Every day at Mesabi Metallics, I see our project moving forward in every aspect. We will finish the job,” said Joe Broking, President & CEO of Mesabi Metallics. “I am incredibly proud of what this team is accomplishing, but it’s not about me and the team here—this project is of incredible importance to Minnesotans. To be Minnesota’s first new mine in 50 years is an honor and a responsibility we take seriously. This project will create hundreds of family-sustaining jobs, power the Green Steel revolution, strengthen Minnesota’s economy and be a source of pride for our entire state.”
Construction milestones in the first quarter of 2025 include:
- Crews have commissioned the main crusher motor in the primary crusher building, the first stop on site for mined taconite to be processed into Direct Reduction (DR) grade pellets. The 800-horsepower electric motor is installed and ready to power the first mechanical phase of Mesabi Metallics’ project.
- Conveyor galleyways between the grizzly and coarse ore storage and between the grizzly and the secondary crusher are being installed. These galleyways will transport the ore across Mesabi Metallics’ site as it moves from building to building for further refinement into DR grade pellets.
- Three of the four crushers have been installed in the secondary crusher building, which will feed crushed ore to the dry cobber drums, which have already been installed. The cobber drums are large, 4 feet by 10 feet drums that utilize magnetic separation to pick up the magnetic iron material in the ore before the material is sent to the concentrator building for further refinement. Efficiencies like adding cobber drums to the secondary crusher help make Mesabi Metallics among the most efficient ore processing plants in the nation.
- The state-of-the-art concentrator building, standing at approximately 130 feet tall and the most sophisticated component of the project, is fully enclosed and ready for further installation of equipment and technology. All six grinding mills in the concentrator building are in position on cradles and are being prepared to be installed on their bearings with the line one secondary mill already set to start the main gear install. Currently, sole plates are being grouted in, and the bearings housings are being installed in preparation for the mills. The 60-ton mill bay overhead crane to be used for equipment installation within the building is fully installed, commissioned and ready for operation. The two additional concentrator overhead cranes are also now ready to operate and to start installing the screens and magnetic separators in those areas. The majority of the slurry pumps for two of the three concentrating lines have been installed and grouted with connecting piping started throughout the process.
On any given day, approximately 400 union contractors are on site moving Mesabi Metallics’ construction forward. These include union workers from the Iron Workers, Laborers, Boilermakers, Electrical Workers, Millwrights, Plumbing and Pipefitters, Bricklayers, Operators, Roofers and Carpenters. As a responsible operator in Minnesota dedicated to the wellbeing of workers, Mesabi Metallics prepays all of its contractors in advance every month.
“Minnesota’s union laborers are world-class. Their hard work, dedication and expertise are the backbone of our progress on site, and we deeply appreciate their commitment to building this project and creating a stronger, greener future for all Minnesotans,” Broking continued.
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About Mesabi Metallics Company LLC
Mesabi Metallics Company LLC, an Essar Group company, is constructing a state-of-the-art mine to support a seven million ton per year beneficiation plant and a seven million ton per year pellet plant to produce premium Direct Reduction (DR) grade pellets, with multiple decades of resources over 16,000 acres in Nashwauk, Minnesota. Once completed, it will be the first new mine and pellet plant in Minnesota in almost 50 years. Mesabi’s DR grade iron ore pellets will be strategically positioned to meet the demand of the Electric Arc Furnace market, ensuring supply chain security for DR grade iron pellets in the United States and replacing foreign imported pellets. The endeavor is one of the largest private sector investments in Minnesota. Mesabi Metallics has invested over $1.8 billion in the project and will further invest $500 million to the complete the project in the first quarter of 2026 and begin commercial operations.
Mesabi Metallics is dedicated to being a positive force in the community. The company minimizes its environmental footprint through innovative practices and efficient resource management, with an eye toward enabling the production of decarbonized Green Steel. Mesabi also proudly partners with Iron Range communities to support local projects and priorities, participating in educational initiatives, development programs and environmental stewardship efforts.
Mesabi Metallics’ media kit is available for download here.
