Reuters reported that an idled steel facility in the heartland of the United States is gearing up for a revival as an energy services provider due to surging production from the US shale revolution.

Esmark Inc said that it is converting the former Ohio Cold Rolling Company steel manufacturing plant in Yorkville, Ohio, into a transportation and logistics hub to serve the Marcellus and Utica shale plays of Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia.

Esmark acquired the Yorkville facility about two years ago from a defunct steelmaker but kept the facility idled due to poor market conditions. The move to refit the plant comes amid a shale boom that has set the United States on course to become the world's largest producer of oil and gas.

The new facility, renamed Yorkville Energy Services Terminal, will provide oil and gas related infrastructure services such as fresh water off take, dry storage, as well as rail, barge and truck access.

Esmark said that a number of large and mid sized energy services companies have expressed interest in the terminal, including companies engaged in material handling, transloading and rail switching. It did not name the companies.

(Source - www.steelguru.com)