Nucor Corp.'s Board of Directors approved an investment of $650 million to expand the production capability of Nucor Steel Gallatin, the company’s flat-rolled sheet steel mill in Ghent, Ky. The investment will increase production from 1.6 million tons to approximately 3 million tons annually and will increase the maximum coil width to approximately 73 inches. The project is expected to create 70 full-time jobs.

This expansion complements the $176 million investment currently under way to construct a hot band continuous pickle galvanizing line at Nucor Steel Gallatin. The line is expected to be operational in the first half of 2019 and will produce approximately 500,000 tons per year of galvanized hot band steel.

Nucor acquired the former Gallatin Steel Company in 2014 for approximately $780 million.