By Kelly Cloonan
U.S. Steel said a deadly explosion at one of its plants earlier this week may have happened while flushing a gas valve in preparation for planned maintenance.
The company said Friday pressure likely built up inside the valve, causing it to fail and leading to coke oven gas filling the area, which then exploded after being ignited.
U.S. Steel said it is working with the United Steelworkers union and third-party experts to investigate the explosion, including a review of video footage and interviewing employees. The probe remains in its early stages, the company said.
The explosion at the Clairton Coke Works in Clairton, Pa., killed two people and injured 10.
The plant bakes coal at high temperatures into a pure carbon form, which is then used in U.S. Steel's blast furnaces where iron ore is turned into liquid iron, which is used to make steel.
Chief Executive David Burritt said Tuesday the plant will continue operating while investigators try to determine the cause of the explosion.
Write to Kelly Cloonan at kelly.cloonan@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
August 15, 2025 17:25 ET (21:25 GMT)
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