Date Time Port Kembla blast furnace upgrade deemed critical A $700 million proposal to upgrade a blast furnace at Port Kembla Steelworks has been declared Critical State Significant Infrastructure (CSSI), given its importance to the state economy and its potential to create 1,000 new jobs in the Illawarra. The project involves fixing and upgrading a blast furnace to ensure it’s ready for operation when the existing furnace is decommissioned in 2026. Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Rob Stokes said, if approved, the Bluescope Steel project would ensure continued employment for thousands of people and maintain a secure supply chain for the construction industry.