From Detroit Free Press

DETROIT -- U.S. Steel Corp. confirmed that it might not be able to produce about 50,000 tons of steel for its automotive customers at its Great Lakes plant in Ecorse after one of its huge steelmaking containers was damaged Friday. John Armstrong, a U.S. Steel spokesman, said the container, used to melt down scrap metal and iron ore, was shut down after liquefied metal began leaking through the container's interior. No one was injured, and the company is investigating.

The container will be down for at least another 10 days for repairs. Armstrong said the company has not determined how the loss of the steel will affect its automotive customers. Other steelmaking operations within the plant might be used to compensate, Armstrong said.

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