By Staff
Gov. Bob Riley said he was disappointed but understands a decision by ThyssenKrupp to delay the start of steel production at its new Mobile plant.
TK officials said Friday the startup of production will be delayed by about a year, to 2011.
"The announcement of a delay is disappointing but understandable given current economic conditions," Riley said. "ThyssenKrupp is still committed to the project and this decision does not delay the plant's construction. There are about 2,000 people working to build the plant now and that's expected to grow to 10,000 in the next six months. Alabama is incredibly excited about ThyssenKrupp and the thousands of new jobs the company will create in our state."
ThyssenKrupp has said the $4 billion plant will employ about 2,700 people when it is operational.