Severstal North America has opened its $550mn Phase II expansion in Columbus, Mississippi.

The expansion at Severstal Columbus has doubled the annual steelmaking capacity to 3.1mn metric tons, the company said in a news release.

The upgrade included a second electric arc furnace, ladle metallurgy furnace, caster, tunnel furnace, and a hot-dip galvanizing line. A wide heavy gauge push pull pickle line was also included in the Phase II project, the company said.