![Cliffs Expects to Reopen United Taconite This Year](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2014/02/minetruck-300x2031.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Cliffs Expects to Reopen United Taconite This Year
VIRGINIA -- The head of Cliffs Natural Resources says he expects to resume production at United Taconite in Eveleth and Forbes sometime this year.
Speaking to Iron Range business and community leaders Wednesday, Cliffs CEO Lourenco Goncalves aid the company plans to invest $65 million in the plant so it can produce a higher-grade of pellets.
He also says the company is negotiating a new contract for those pellets with steelmaker ArcelorMittal. He didn't give a specific timeline for the contract, or for United Taconite reopening. He just says it's "going well" and upgrading the mine will hinge on the contract.
United Taconite has been idle since August.
Cliffs last week announced it will reopen Northshore Mining in Babbitt and Silver Bay in May.
More From AM 1240 WJON
![“Rocky Horror” on Stage The Red Carpet in St. Cloud This October](http://townsquare.media/site/65/files/2022/08/attachment-GettyImages-106340643.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Minnesota Farmers Produce Record Sugar Beet Crop in 2017](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2017/11/Farm.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Minnesota Corn, soybean Farmers See Slight Production Dip](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2017/11/Farm.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Minnesota In Control When It Comes to Farming In Recent Report [AUDIO]](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2013/08/Farming.png?w=980&q=75)
![Two Lines To Be Restarted At Northshore Mining](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2010/12/minetruck.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![St. Ben’s, St. John’s Official Higher Ed Partners with MN United](http://townsquare.media/site/70/files/2019/11/soccer_ball_getty_Michael-Regan_Getty24.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Gas Prices Fall in Minnesota, Rise Nationally](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2023/04/attachment-GettyImages-97962772.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![St. Cloud’s Coborn’s, CentraCare Make List of Biggest Minnesota Employers](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2024/07/attachment-Jobs3-Thinkstock-GettyImages.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Central MN Meat Market Introduces 24/7 Meat Vending Machine](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2024/07/attachment-Jen-and-Travis.jpg?w=980&q=75)