Cleveland, August 21. Cleveland‑Cliffs Inc., North America’s largest flat‑rolled steel producer, announced a joint investment program together with the United States Department of Energy to modernize its Middletown Works plant in Ohio. Each side will contribute USD 500 million, bringing the total investment value to one billion US dollars. This large‑scale modernization project targets decarbonization of existing steelmaking infrastructure, focusing on upgrading furnace equipment, optimizing energy efficiency and expanding production capacity for high‑grade electrical steel. High‑quality grain‑oriented electrical steel is essential material for power grids, renewable energy transformers and national‑defense related energy infrastructure. Plant renovation work will be carried out in phases, avoiding full‑scale shutdowns so that core production lines can maintain stable output during construction. Company executives highlighted that this project will strengthen domestic supply chains for critical steel materials within the United States, reduce reliance on overseas imports of specialized steel grades, and support national clean‑energy transition goals. The upgraded plant is scheduled to finish major reconstruction work by late 2029, and will significantly cut carbon dioxide emissions per tonne of finished steel products once fully commissioned.