NEMO Industries, an AI-based ironmaking company, announced plans to develop Ironworks I, the first phase of an $8 billion industrial project in Ascension Parish, Louisiana. The initial $3 billion phase will establish what the company describes as the world’s most efficient pig iron facility, producing 2.3 million metric tons per year of granulated pig iron for domestic and international markets.
The project marks a significant step forward in sustainable U.S. iron production. Unlike traditional coal-based processes, NEMO’s facility will use direct reduction and electric smelting furnaces powered by natural gas and electricity.
This approach drastically reduces carbon emissions while improving efficiency, reliability, and worker safety. The facility will also capture carbon dioxide for potential off-site sequestration and integrate advanced AI systems to monitor and optimize performance in real time.
Phase One is expected to create 350 permanent jobs and 1,500 construction jobs at peak activity. Phases Two and Three, representing an additional $5 billion in future investment, would add 600 additional permanent positions, bringing the total long-term employment to 950. The project is also projected to generate roughly 2,250 indirect jobs in the surrounding region.
Pending permit approvals and a final investment decision expected in 2027, construction is slated to begin later that year with commissioning targeted for 2030. The company’s backers include Cargill, Lowercarbon Capital, BoxGroup, 776, and co-founding investor Vivek Ramaswamy.
Executives from NEMO cited the strategic advantages of building in Louisiana. For example, the site provides access to deepwater ports, abundant and stable natural gas, and a skilled industrial workforce, which are key factors that position the state as an ideal location for large-scale, long-term industrial investment.
KEY QUOTES:
“NEMO Industries is thrilled to announce Ironworks I, Phase One of our facility in Donaldsonville, Louisiana. Here in the heart of Louisiana we’re proving that the future of iron will be forged by artificial intelligence, made in America, and built to keep our steel supply chain strong for generations to come.”
Daniel Liss, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, NEMO Industries
“Louisiana offers a rare combination you can’t find in many places: world-class deepwater port access for global logistics, low-cost, stable, and plentiful natural gas supply, local communities that understand and support industry including deeply skilled and experienced workforces, all of which create an ideal industrial business climate. It’s the perfect place to build a plant that’s globally competitive and built to last.”
Michael DuBose, Co-Founder and President, NEMO Industries
“As European markets accelerate their decarbonization commitments, reliable, sustainable iron production from the U.S. will be essential to meeting demand with maximum carbon efficiency. Cargill is proud to support NEMO Industries’ new project in Louisiana, which will play a pivotal role in catalyzing more efficient steelmaking. This project is exactly the kind of forward-looking investment our industry needs.”
Lee Kirk, Managing Director, Cargill Metals
