GALLERY: The Sault’s changing skyline

The most costly construction project in the Sault's history is continuing to reshape the way our city appears to visitors.

"This is a truly exciting time in Sault Ste. Marie, as we continue to see the skyline change at the site of the EAF [electric arc furnace] with the exterior sheeting closing the building in anticipation of commissioning activities commencing by the end of this year," Algoma chief executive officer Michael Garcia said today during a conference call with institutional investors.

SooToday's Kenneth Armstrong immediately deployed to vantage points around the steel mill from which he's been photographically documenting the ongoing $850-million project for many months.

"With EAF steel production expected by the end of the calendar first quarter of next year, we will begin to ramp towards a shipping capacity of approximately three million tons per year during the quarter," Garcia said.

"Cumulative investment in the EAF project reached $611 million. To date, we have committed contracts totalling approximately $850 million with over 90 per cent tied to fixed-price contracts.

"Progress to date on both the construction of the project and a contracted portion of work yet to be completed has significantly de-risked the project budget," Garcia said.

"We expect that all remaining contracted work will be settled during the current quarter.... Our start-up plan continues to include normal production from our existing steelmaking facility, while ramping up steel production from our EAFs in calendar 2025, followed by a complete switch to EAF production."