Hyundai-POSCO Louisiana Steel Mill Clears Final Air Permit After Groundbreaking

The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality approved the final air permit for the Hyundai-POSCO Louisiana Steel mill in the Modeste area of Ascension Parish, Yahoo reported on October 29, 2026. The facility is expected to open in the first quarter of 2029 and produce 2.7 million metric tons of steel annually.

Hyundai Steel's Louisiana Mill Permit And Site

The permit follows a groundbreaking ceremony held September 4 at the 1,700-acre site. The mill is expected to anchor the 17,000-acre RiverPlex MegaPark, an industrial zone along the west bank of the Mississippi River north of Donaldsonville. Hyundai Steel is a Seoul-based steelmaker founded in 1953.

Several organizations, including the Sierra Club, have objected to the project over environmental, community and labor impacts. "The company made some improvements to its facility in response to public pressure, but it needs to do more to reduce dangerous pollution through electrification and make a firm commitment to green hydrogen," said Matthew Miles Goodrich, director of the Sierra Club's Industrial Transformation Campaign, in a news release.

Last month, the Louisiana State Bond Commission approved up to $1.3 billion in tax-free financing in connection with the project. President Donald Trump announced plans for the mill with state and local officials at the White House in March 2025. Political and business figures have cited more than 1,300 direct new jobs and thousands of indirect jobs expected for the Baton Rouge region.

Hyundai Steel's Louisiana Investment And Hiring Plans

According to akta.pro company records, Hyundai Steel's investment in the Louisiana electric arc furnace mill is $5.8 billion, announced in March 2025, with annual capacity of 2.7 million tons. The records list a power supply agreement with Entergy signed in May 2026 and a master research agreement with Louisiana State University signed June 16, 2026 covering technology development and workforce training.

HPLS opened job recruitment with nearly 40 positions and expects to hire up to 300 employees by the end of 2027. Construction has been ongoing since February on a River Parishes Community College workforce training center along Hwy. 945 in Donaldsonville, expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2028.

Earlier Steps Toward The Ascension Parish Mill

In October 2026, Hyundai-POSCO Louisiana Steel was recruiting 37 positions in the Greater New Orleans area for the plant, New Orleans CityBusiness reported. In September 2026, Ascension Parish released economic development documents related to Hyundai Steel's $5.8 billion investment after a confidentiality period expired, according to the Baton Rouge Business Report. Opponents of the mill urged state financing officials to halt a proposed $900 million tax-exempt bond issue during a meeting with state officials, the same outlet reported that month.

What Comes Next For The Mill

Construction is planned to continue through the end of 2028, with operations estimated to begin in the first quarter of 2029. The workforce training center is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2028.