On Friday, Hyundai is conducting a ceremonial groundbreaking for its $5.8 billion Steel plant near Donaldsonville. Stephanie Malin with Hyundai Steel says there are several reasons why the company chose Ascension Parish to establish its new plant.
“A skilled workforce, the infrastructure needed to build out the site, transportation; and then community partners that were willing to build programs along with us, that would help provide more opportunity to people in the community,” Malin said.
Malin says by moving the manufacturing of the sheet metal to be used to manufacture Hyundai vehicles to the U.S., it will bolster national security and the U.S. supply chain.
“It allows us to not rely on geopolitics or foreign countries to determine what the supply chain is when it comes to vehicle manufacturing in the U.S.,” Malin explained.
Some in the community expressed concern at a recent air permit hearing about whether emissions levels would meet current EPA standards. But Malin says Hyundai is taking innovative steps to greatly reduce emissions.
“Typically, automotive steel was produced using coal that would be burned, and this method is using electricity. For that reason, the carbon emissions alone are cut by 70%,” Malin noted.
Before construction can commence, Hyundai still needs to receive its air pollution permit from the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality.
The plant is expected to open in 2029.
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