Governor Dayton Meets with Essar Steel Officials

Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton,  Iron Range legislators, commissioners and members of the IRRRB and Department of Employment and Economic Development met with officials at Essar Steel Monday. 

Governor Dayton addressed Essar leaders about once again making late payments to contractors.  

Essar made a commitment to the Governor to catch up on payments by the end of the month. 

The Governor also addressed the company’s obligation to pay back $66 million provided to them from them the state for various projects in 2008. 

Essar is continuing negotiations with the state and said they will offer a reply within two weeks.

At Monday’s meeting, leaders from Essar reiterated their commitment to completing construction on their facility and beginning taconite pellet production by the end of 2016. 

The $1.9 billion dollar project is expected to bring in more than 300 jobs to the Iron Range.