Governor of Kentucky condemns Unity Aluminum for abandoning Ashland aluminium mill project

Five years after lawmakers authorised investing $15 million to assist Unity Aluminum (formerly known as Braidy Industries) build an aluminium mill, the company appears to be abandoning a contentious project in Ashland to take up another project with Steel Dynamics Inc. in the southeast. According to a spokesperson of the company, the Ashland location is "insufficient to satisfy the size and scope requirements" of the new project.

Former Gov. Matt Bevin (R), who served as Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear's predecessor, urged lawmakers to authorise investing $15 million in the Ashland project. Still, the plant never materialised after five years and much debate. Craig Bouchard, the founder of Braidy Industries, quit the organisation in 2020 when concerns arose over his handling of business money.

"Isn't it something that with everything the commonwealth did for Unity, it appears they're dropping us as quickly as they can? Again, this was a con job," said Kentucky Gov. Andrew Graham Beshear.

"And we could've located multiple opportunities on that property by now. It's an incredible piece of property, and Braidy doing nothing has kept us from ultimately developing that site," added Andy Beshear.

A representative for Unity Aluminum asserted that Kentucky would recover its investment. On the other hand, sources claimed that Steel Dynamics would own more than 94 per cent of the new plant. Andy Beshear stated that his government is in contact with Steel Dynamics to inquire about its plans for the Ashland site, and if all else fails, he will attempt to reclaim the land for use in a separate project with a different firm.