Algoma Steel's getting federal backing to become one of the "greenest" steel producers in North America.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was in Sault Ste. Marie Monday to announce up to $420-million for the Sault steelmaker to buy new "state-of-the-art equipment" so it can transition to electric arc furnace-based production, which Trudeau says will give them "an even greater competitive edge over imported steel", adding "that's not just good for business - that's good for the environment", as it is expected to cut Algoma Steel's carbon emissions by as much as 70 percent, making it the lowest cost per tonne of greenhouse gas reduction in Canada.
$200-million of the funds comes from Innovation Science and Economic Development Canada's Strategic Innovation Fund through the Net Zero Accelerator to "rapidly expedited decarbonization projects and accelerate Canada's industrial transformation", while the other $220-million comes from an investment agreement in principle with the Canada Infrastructure Bank, which will provide the funds over four years.