CORRESP 1 filename1.htm

March 6, 2024

VIA EDGAR TRANSMISSION

Mr. John Coleman

Mr. Craig Arakawa

Ms. Melissa Gilmore

Mr. Kevin Woody

Division of Corporation Finance

Office of Manufacturing
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
100 F Street, N.E.
Washington, D.C. 20549-4631

| Re: | National Steel Company (Companhia Siderúrgica Nacional – CSN) Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022

File No. 001-14732

Response to Staff Comment Letter Dated February 28, 2024 and Supplemental Response to Staff Comment Letter Dated January 23, 2024

Dear Mr. Coleman, Mr. Arakawa, Ms. Gilmore and Mr. Woody:

In response to the comment letter from the staff (the “Staff”) of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) received by National Steel Company (Companhia Siderúrgica Nacional – CSN) (the “Company” or “CSN”) on February 28, 2024, the Company hereby confirms that, as per the Staff’s request, it will file an amendment to the Company’s annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, filed on April 27, 2023 (the “2022 Form 20-F”), which amendment will include revisions that address the Staff’s comments, as well as a revised technical report summary for Casa de Pedra. As set forth in the Company’s response letter dated February 6, 2024, the Company reassessed its previous declaration and understands that Arcos is not a material property within the meaning of § 229.1301 (Item 1301) and, therefore, the Company will not file a revised technical report summary for Arcos.

The Company proposes to file the amendment to the 2022 Form 20-F following its receipt of any comments from the Staff to this response letter.

Below is a supplemental response to the Company’s response letter dated February 6, 2024, to the Staff’s comment letter dated January 23, 2024. For your convenience, we have reproduced the Staff’s comments in italics and have provided the supplemental responses immediately below.

Companhia Siderúrgica Nacional
Av. Brigadeiro Faria Lima, 3400 – 20th Floor Faria Lima Financial Center 04538-132 – São Paulo – SP

SEC Comment No. 1

Item 4. Information on the Company – General, page 17

Please provide us with a draft of your SK 1300 mineral property disclosure that encompasses all of your proposed revisions. Based on your response we may have additional comment. Please note that summary disclosure should include all mineral properties, for example iron ore and cement, and should clearly distinguish between material and non material properties. The summary disclosure should include the information required by Item 1303(b) of Regulation S-K.

The individual property disclosure, which is only required for properties that you have determined to be material, should include the information required by Item 1304 of Regulation S-K. The information required for the individual property disclosure is more extensive and detailed in comparison. In your draft please clearly label each section including Item 1303 Summary Disclosure, Item 1304 Individual Property Disclosure, and Item 1305 Internal Control Disclosure.

Response to Comment No. 1

Following is an overview of our material mining properties:

Material Mining Properties

Name of mining operation | Location of the mining operation | Type and amount of ownership interest (%) | Operator | Surface (Ha) | Stage of the mining operation | Permits | Key condition of permit | Type of mine/material | Beneficiation plant and other installations
Casa de Pedra | Congonhas, MG | 79.75 | CSN Mineração | 2,516 | Production | Yes | EIA(1) and others | Open Pit / Iron Ore | Mining facilities and Pires
Engenho | Congonhas, MG | 79.75 | CSN Mineração | 344 | Production | Yes | EIA(1) and others | Open Pit / Iron Ore | Mining facilities and Pires

| (1) | Environmental Impact Assessment – EIA. Permits or licenses have been obtained, are being renewed or are being processed in accordance with current regulations.

Following is an overview of our non-material mining properties:

Non-material Mining Properties

Name of mining operation | Location of the mining operation | Type and amount of ownership interest (%) | Operator | Surface (Ha) | Stage of the mining operation | Permits | Key condition of permit | Type of mine/material | Beneficiation plant and other installations
Bocaina | Arcos, MG | 100 | CSN Cimentos Brasil | 342.9 | Production | Yes | (2) | Open Pit / Limestone, Dolomite | Bocaina Mining Facilities and Tin (ERSA)
Pitimbu | Alhandra, PB | 100 | CSN Cimentos Brasil | 746.7 | Production | Yes | (2) | Open Pit / Limestone, Clay, Sand | Pitimbu Mining Facilities
Capoeira Grande | Barroso, MG | 100 | CSN Cimentos Brasil | 93.4 | Production | Yes | (2) | Open Pit / Limestone | Capoeira Grande Mining Facilities
Mata do Ribeirão | Barroso, MG | 100 | CSN Cimentos Brasil | 129.7 | Production | Yes | (2) | Open Pit / Limestone | Mata do Ribeirão Mining Facilities

Companhia Siderúrgica Nacional
Av. Brigadeiro Faria Lima, 3400 – 20th Floor Faria Lima Financial Center 04538-132 – São Paulo – SP

Fazenda Campinho | Pedro Leopoldo, MG | 100 | CSN Cimentos Brasil | 661.4 | Production | Yes | (2) | Open Pit / Limestone | Fazenda Campinho Mining Facilities
Boa Vista | Montes Claros, MG | 100 | CSN Cimentos Brasil | 432.9 | Production | Yes | (2) | Open Pit / Limestone | Boa Vista Mining Facilities
Saudade | Cantagalo, RJ | 100 | CSN Cimentos Brasil | 514.6 | Production | Yes | (2) | Open Pit / Limestone | Saudade Mining Facilities
Miramar | Caaporã, PB | 100 | CSN Cimentos Brasil | 983.7 | Production | Yes | (2) | Open Pit / Limestone | Miramar Mining Facilities
Fernandinho | Itabirito, MG | 79.75 | Minerios Nacional | 147.0 | Deactivated | Yes | - | Open Pit / Iron Ore | -

| (2) | The key permissions to guarantee the respective reserves are: mineral concessions; environmental licenses; and rights to use the property.

The following tables set forth each individual property’s production information:

Material Mining Properties

Name of mining operation | Location of the mining operation | Beneficiation plant and other installations | Aggregate production 2020 (*1000) | Aggregate production 2021 (*1000) | Aggregate production 2022 (*1000)
Casa de Pedra | Congonhas, MG | Mining facilities and Pires | 25,680 | 26,790 | 23,725
Engenho | Congonhas, MG | Mining facilities and Pires | 2,200 | 5,566 | 7,024

Non-material Mining Properties

Name of mining operation | Location of the mining operation | Beneficiation plant and other installations | Aggregate production 2020 (tons.) | Aggregate production 2021 (tons.) | Aggregate production 2022 (tons.)
Bocaina | Arcos, MG | Bocaina Mine and Tin (ERSA) | 2,280,760 | 1,823,878 | 2,315,465
Pitimbu | Alhandra, PB | Pitimbu Mine | 1,734,110 | 1,762,657 | 1,417,962
Capoeira Grande | Barroso, MG | Capoeira Grande Mine | 294,002 | 281,095 | 329,795
Mata do Ribeirão | Barroso, MG | Mata do Ribeirão Mine | 1,323,850 | 1,397,347 | 1,772,303
Fazenda Campinho | Pedro Leopoldo, MG | Fazenda Campinho Mine | 1,168,741 | 1,518,200 | 1,238,936
Boa Vista | Montes Claros, MG | Boa Vista Mine | 864,201 | 906,417 | 1,004,218
Saudade | Cantagalo, RJ | Saudade Mine | 934,103 | 1,037,009 | 986,374
Miramar | Caaporã, PB | Miramar Mine | 1,376,697 | 1,677,637 | 1,833,328
Fernandinho | Itabirito, MG | Fernandinho Mine | - | - | -

Iron Ore Mining Properties

Our iron ore business is conducted by our subsidiary CSN Mineração in the state of Minas Gerais, within the area called the Iron Quadrangle. Casa de Pedra mine, Engenho mine and Fernandinho mine are our open pit mines. Casa de Pedra mine and Engenho mine belong to the same mining complex and run their own transportation and shipping capabilities. The mining complex comprises the Casa de Pedra Central Plant and the Pires Benefitiation Plant. Fernandinho mine, which is currently deactivated, is located on the North side and, when it was active until 2015, it also ran its own transportation and shipping capabilities.

Companhia Siderúrgica Nacional
Av. Brigadeiro Faria Lima, 3400 – 20th Floor Faria Lima Financial Center 04538-132 – São Paulo – SP

To complement its iron ore mining properties, CSN Mineração runs the Itaguaí Port, located in the municipality of Itaguaí, state of Rio de Janeiro, and the Presidente Vargas Steel Plant, in the municipality of Volta Redonda, also in the state of Rio de Janeiro.

The following map presents an overview of our iron ore operations:

Our iron ore properties comprise Casa de Pedra and Engenho (both material properties) and Fernandinho (non-material property), as further described below:

Casa de Pedra Mine – Congonhas, MG

Casa de Pedra mine is our main iron ore mine. It is located in the municipality of Congonhas, 80 km to the South of Belo Horizonte, the capital of the state of Minas Gerais. Its mining concession has no expiration date and covers 2,516 hectares. Casa de Pedra is in full production stage.

Casa de Pedra mine has all the necessary permits for current operations, and the authorization process related to its planned production expansion is running according to schedule. Related facilities, such as waste piles and tailings dams, also comply with applicable legislation.

Companhia Siderúrgica Nacional
Av. Brigadeiro Faria Lima, 3400 – 20th Floor Faria Lima Financial Center 04538-132 – São Paulo – SP

Casa de Pedra mine is an open pit operation with high grade hematite ore type (iron grade of approximately 64%) mixed with a minor amount of Itabirite ore type (iron grade of approximately 30-60%). Mine occurrences are represented by banded iron formations, varying from low grade (~Fe@30%) to medium/high grade types (~Fe@60%), and supergenous/hypogenous hematite (Fe@64%), all varying from fresh to hard material types. Some types of mineralized covers are also mixed to feed the plant. The geology framework is complex as a consequence of innumerous geological events that created an integrate grade variability scenario. For this reason, mapping and drilling are always reinforced and are one of the work priorities at Casa de Pedra.

The Central Plant is fed with natural high grade run of mine, and the beneficiation process comprises crushing, screening, and flotation. The Central Plant generates lump ore, sinter feed and pellet feed. The Pires beneficiation plant is fed with low to medium grade in a dry beneficiation process.

All products from Casa de Pedra are transported by MRS’s railroad, which transports iron ore to the Itaguaí maritime terminal in the state of Rio de Janeiro.

Engenho Mine – Congonhas, MG

Engenho mine covers 344 hectares and has been integrated in the Casa de Pedra mining complex since 2012. Engenho mine production is constantly mixed with Casa de Pedra mine production, following the same process route.

Companhia Siderúrgica Nacional
Av. Brigadeiro Faria Lima, 3400 – 20th Floor Faria Lima Financial Center 04538-132 – São Paulo – SP

The following map sets forth a detailed illustration of Casa de Pedra mine and Engenho mine locations:

Fernandinho Mine – Itabirito, MG

Fernandinho mine covers 147 hectares and has been integrated in the Casa de Pedra mining complex since 2012. Fernandinho mine’s operations were deactivated in 2015 as part of an internal strategic decision. In the future, additional geological, drilling and resource studies and estimations will be performed in order to update mineral resources conversion to mineral reserves.

Companhia Siderúrgica Nacional
Av. Brigadeiro Faria Lima, 3400 – 20th Floor Faria Lima Financial Center 04538-132 – São Paulo – SP

The following map sets forth a detailed illustration of Fernandinho mine and its related facilities:

In addition to the mining properties detailed above, CSN Mineração conducts initial exploration activities in the surrounding areas of our mining operations.

The following chart sets forth a summary of our iron ore resources and reserves, updated to December 31, 2022, considering our ownership interest in each property:

| Measured mineral resources | Indicated mineral resources | Measured + Indicated mineral resources | Inferred mineral resources
| Amount | Grades/Qualities | Amount | Grades/Qualities | Amount | Grades/ Qualities | Amount | Grades/Qualities
| (Million tonnes) | (% Fe) | (Million tonnes) | (% Fe) | (Million tonnes) | (% Fe) | (Million tonnes) | (% Fe)
Iron ore: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Casa de Pedra Mine | 344 | 39.8 | 1,210 | 37.6 | 1,554 | 38.1 | 1,375 | 37.1
Engenho Mine | 178 | 40.2 | 44 | 46.9 | 223 | 41.6 | 11 | 43.5
Fernandinho Mine | 42 | 39.8 | 49 | 39.2 | 92 | 39.5 | 50 | 38.6
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  | Updated December/2022

Companhia Siderúrgica Nacional
Av. Brigadeiro Faria Lima, 3400 – 20th Floor Faria Lima Financial Center 04538-132 – São Paulo – SP

| Proven mineral reserves | Probable mineral reserves | Total mineral reserves
| Amount | Grades/Qualities | Amount | Grades/Qualities | Amount | Grades/Qualities
| (Million tonnes) | (% Fe) | (Million tonnes) | (% Fe) | (Million tonnes) | (% Fe)
Iron ore: |  |  |  |  |  |
Casa de Pedra Mine | 87 | 39.4 | 1,368 | 41.0 | 1,455 | 40.9
Engenho Mine | 11 | 39.7 | 168 | 41.6 | 179 | 41.5
*CSN considers an average price of US$95 per ton for the economic analysis. |  | Updated December/2022

Cement Mining Properties

The following maps present the location of each non-material cement mining property set forth below:

Bocaina Mine – Arcos, MG

Companhia Siderúrgica Nacional
Av. Brigadeiro Faria Lima, 3400 – 20th Floor Faria Lima Financial Center 04538-132 – São Paulo – SP

Pitimbu – Alhandra, PB:

Mata do Ribeirão and Capoeira Grande – Barroso, MG:

Companhia Siderúrgica Nacional
Av. Brigadeiro Faria Lima, 3400 – 20th Floor Faria Lima Financial Center 04538-132 – São Paulo – SP

Fazenda Campinho – Pedro Leopoldo, MG:

Boa Vista – Montes Claros, MG:

Companhia Siderúrgica Nacional
Av. Brigadeiro Faria Lima, 3400 – 20th Floor Faria Lima Financial Center 04538-132 – São Paulo – SP

Saudade – Cantagalo, RJ:

Miramar – Caaporã, PB:

Each property includes a mine: (i) Elizabeth Plant – Pitimbu Mine; (ii) Barroso Plant – Capoeira Grande Mine and Mata do Ribeirão Mine; (iii) Pedro Leopoldo Plant – Pedro Leopoldo Mine (Fazenda Campinho); (iv) Cantagalo Plant – Cantagalo (Saudade Mine); (v) Caaporã Plant – Caaporã (Miramar Mine); (vi) Montes Claros Plant – Mining complex of Montes Claros; and (vii) Arcos – Bocaina Mine.

Each cement mining property is owned 100% by us and holds the respective mining and property rights.

Companhia Siderúrgica Nacional
Av. Brigadeiro Faria Lima, 3400 – 20th Floor Faria Lima Financial Center 04538-132 – São Paulo – SP

Each of these properties is operational. The key permissions to guarantee the respective reserves are: mineral concessions; environmental licenses; and rights to use the property. Each of the property’s mining types and mineralization styles, as well as respective processing plants and other available facilities, are set forth in the tables above under the heading “Non-material Mining Properties.”

The following tables set forth the mineral reserves and mineral resources for each cement property containing measured and indicated resources informed separately and useful life information calculated only for reserves. With respect to quality, the guidelines employed provide for a minimum CaO content of 45% for all cement mines. CSN does not report inferred resources for its non-material cement mines because they are resources of low geological knowledge, CSN considers that inferred resources provide little practical value for asset valuation and CSN is not required to report inferred resources to the Brazilian mining authority. CSN considers the following measured and indicated resources, in each case as of December 31, 2022:

Companhia Siderúrgica Nacional
Av. Brigadeiro Faria Lima, 3400 – 20th Floor Faria Lima Financial Center 04538-132 – São Paulo – SP

SEC Comment No. 6

Item 19. Exhibits, page 146

We note your response to comment 26. Please revise to include the entire discounted cash flow analysis table for the Casa de Pedra project in order to comply with Item 601(b)(96)(iii)(B)(19)(ii) of Regulation S-K. Please provide a draft with your response.

Companhia Siderúrgica Nacional
Av. Brigadeiro Faria Lima, 3400 – 20th Floor Faria Lima Financial Center 04538-132 – São Paulo – SP

Response to Comment No. 6

The overall economics for the project’s reserves have been evaluated by CSN using conventional discounted cash flow methods. The production schedules, capital expenditures and operating costs have been previously informed in the Company’s response letter dated January 8, 2024.

The following key parameters were essential to the construction of the cash flow model and the economic results:

| · | long term product prices based on forecasts indicated in table 16.1 of the technical report summary to be filed with the amendment to the 2022 Form 20-F (Section 16: Market Studies);

| · | cost estimates were based on an exchange rate set forth in table 18.1 of the technical report summary to be filed with the amendment to the 2022 Form 20-F (Section 18: Capital and Operating Costs);

| · | the economic analysis was based on 100% equity financing with no debt component;

| · | all revenues and costs are reported in Brazilian reais;

| · | Brazilian income tax rate of 25% is used along with a provision for 9% Brazilian Social Contribution Tax (CSLL), which brings the effective tax rate to 34%; and

| · | capital and sustaining expenditures have been fully depreciated or amortized.

The economic analysis presented in this section contains forward-looking information with regards to the mineral reserves estimates, product prices, exchange rates, proposed mine production plan, projected recovery rates and processing costs, infrastructure construction costs and schedule.

The results of the economic analysis are subject to a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those presented here.

The economic analysis presented in this section is for the purpose of determining mineral reserves estimates only.

Economic Analysis

The life of mine financial outputs from the cash flow model are summarized in the table below. All economic numbers are presented in terms of undiscounted accumulated values over the life of the mine, except with respect to net present value, which considers an annual discount rate of 9.26% and is calculated as US$6,540 million.

Companhia Siderúrgica Nacional
Av. Brigadeiro Faria Lima, 3400 – 20th Floor Faria Lima Financial Center 04538-132 – São Paulo – SP

Accumulated Life of Mine Financial Output Summary

Item | Unit | Value
Production | Mt | 1,032
Net Revenue | US$ MM | 67,830
Operating Costs | US$ MM | -41,257
Mining | US$ MM | 8,577
Processing | US$ MM | 10,683
Rail transport | US$ MM | 5,222
Port operations | US$ MM | 4,198
Royaltiess (CFEM+TFRM) | US$ MM | 2,641
Other Costs | US$ MM | 1,963
Depreciation | US$ MM | 7,974
Gross Profit | US$ MM | 26,573
Sales Expenses and G&A | US$ MM | -4,408
EBITDA | US$ MM | 30,139
Cash Flow | Unid |
(=) EBITDA | US$ MM | 30,139
(-) Depreciation | US$ MM | 7,974
(-) Taxes | US$ MM | -7,536
(=) NOPLAT | US$ MM | 30,577
(+) Depreciation | US$ MM | 0
(-) Capex | US$ MM | -6,687
(=) Free Cash Flow | US$ MM | 23,889
(=) Discounted Cash Flow (Net Present Value) | US$ MM | 6,540

The detailed annual cash flow results are set forth in the tables included in the following pages.

Companhia Siderúrgica Nacional
Av. Brigadeiro Faria Lima, 3400 – 20th Floor Faria Lima Financial Center 04538-132 – São Paulo – SP

Cash flow model (Year 2023 to Year 2040)

Companhia Siderúrgica Nacional
Av. Brigadeiro Faria Lima, 3400 – 20th Floor Faria Lima Financial Center 04538-132 – São Paulo – SP

Cash flow model (Year 2041 to Year 2058)

Companhia Siderúrgica Nacional
Av. Brigadeiro Faria Lima, 3400 – 20th Floor Faria Lima Financial Center 04538-132 – São Paulo – SP

Cash flow model (Year 2059 to Year 2076)

Companhia Siderúrgica Nacional
Av. Brigadeiro Faria Lima, 3400 – 20th Floor Faria Lima Financial Center 04538-132 – São Paulo – SP

Cash flow model (Year 2077 to Year 2095)

Companhia Siderúrgica Nacional
Av. Brigadeiro Faria Lima, 3400 – 20th Floor Faria Lima Financial Center 04538-132 – São Paulo – SP

Sensitivity Analysis

A sensitivity analysis was completed on the discounted cash flow model to assess the impact on the net present value to changes in product prices, operating costs, capital expenditures (including sustaining) and gross revenue (iron ore price). The results are set forth in the following tables:

Net present value sensitivity analysis with respect to product prices and operating costs

| Product Prices
Operating Costs | 6.540 | -25% | -20% | -15% | -10% | -5% | 0% | 5% | 10% | 15% | 20% | 25%
-25% | 5.085 | 5.635 | 6.184 | 6.734 | 7.284 | 7.834 | 8.384 | 8.933 | 9.483 | 10.033 | 10.583
-20% | 4.826 | 5.383 | 5.931 | 6.479 | 7.027 | 7.575 | 8.123 | 8.671 | 9.219 | 9.767 | 10.316
-15% | 4.562 | 5.131 | 5.677 | 6.224 | 6.770 | 7.316 | 7.863 | 8.409 | 8.956 | 9.502 | 10.048
-10% | 4.298 | 4.869 | 5.424 | 5.968 | 6.513 | 7.058 | 7.602 | 8.147 | 8.692 | 9.236 | 9.781
-5% | 4.034 | 4.603 | 5.170 | 5.713 | 6.256 | 6.799 | 7.342 | 7.885 | 8.428 | 8.971 | 9.514
0% | 3.769 | 4.337 | 4.905 | 5.458 | 5.999 | 6.540 | 7.082 | 7.623 | 8.164 | 8.705 | 9.247
5% | 3.504 | 4.071 | 4.637 | 5.201 | 5.742 | 6.282 | 6.821 | 7.361 | 7.900 | 8.440 | 8.979
10% | 3.232 | 3.805 | 4.369 | 4.933 | 5.485 | 6.023 | 6.561 | 7.099 | 7.636 | 8.174 | 8.712
15% | 2.952 | 3.537 | 4.101 | 4.664 | 5.224 | 5.764 | 6.301 | 6.837 | 7.373 | 7.909 | 8.445
20% | 2.662 | 3.263 | 3.833 | 4.394 | 4.954 | 5.506 | 6.040 | 6.574 | 7.109 | 7.643 | 8.178
25% | 2.368 | 2.979 | 3.563 | 4.124 | 4.683 | 5.240 | 5.780 | 6.312 | 6.845 | 7.378 | 7.910

Net present value sensitivity analysis with respect to product prices and capital expenditures

| Product Prices
Capital Expenditures | 6.540 | -25% | -20% | -15% | -10% | -5% | 0% | 5% | 10% | 15% | 20% | 25%
-25% | 3.970 | 4.537 | 5.095 | 5.636 | 6.177 | 6.719 | 7.260 | 7.801 | 8.342 | 8.884 | 9.425
-20% | 3.930 | 4.497 | 5.059 | 5.601 | 6.142 | 6.683 | 7.224 | 7.765 | 8.307 | 8.848 | 9.389
-15% | 3.890 | 4.457 | 5.023 | 5.565 | 6.106 | 6.647 | 7.189 | 7.730 | 8.271 | 8.812 | 9.353
-10% | 3.850 | 4.417 | 4.984 | 5.529 | 6.071 | 6.612 | 7.153 | 7.694 | 8.235 | 8.777 | 9.318
-5% | 3.810 | 4.377 | 4.944 | 5.494 | 6.035 | 6.576 | 7.117 | 7.659 | 8.200 | 8.741 | 9.282
0% | 3.769 | 4.337 | 4.905 | 5.458 | 5.999 | 6.540 | 7.082 | 7.623 | 8.164 | 8.705 | 9.247
5% | 3.729 | 4.297 | 4.865 | 5.422 | 5.964 | 6.505 | 7.046 | 7.587 | 8.128 | 8.670 | 9.211
10% | 3.688 | 4.257 | 4.825 | 5.387 | 5.928 | 6.469 | 7.010 | 7.552 | 8.093 | 8.634 | 9.175
15% | 3.648 | 4.217 | 4.785 | 5.350 | 5.892 | 6.434 | 6.975 | 7.516 | 8.057 | 8.598 | 9.140
20% | 3.607 | 4.177 | 4.745 | 5.311 | 5.857 | 6.398 | 6.939 | 7.480 | 8.022 | 8.563 | 9.104
25% | 3.566 | 4.137 | 4.705 | 5.272 | 5.821 | 6.362 | 6.903 | 7.445 | 7.986 | 8.527 | 9.068

Companhia Siderúrgica Nacional
Av. Brigadeiro Faria Lima, 3400 – 20th Floor Faria Lima Financial Center 04538-132 – São Paulo – SP

Qualified Person’s Opinion

The cash flow model demonstrates that under the current set of economic assumptions the Casa de Pedra project provides a robust positive post-tax net present value of US$6,540 million at a 9.26% annual discount and confirms the economic viability of the mineral reserves estimates.

The financial sensitivity analysis shows that the project is most sensitive to product prices, and least sensitive to capital expenditures.

*******

If you have any questions or require any additional information with respect to the above, please do not hesitate to contact Tobias Stirnberg, CSN’s counsel, at +55 (11) 3927-7702.

Sincerely,

/s/ Marcelo Cunha Ribeiro

___________________________________
Companhia Siderúrgica Nacional
By: Marcelo Cunha Ribeiro

Title: Chief Financial and Investor Relations Officer

cc: Tobias Stirnberg

Milbank LLP

Companhia Siderúrgica Nacional
Av. Brigadeiro Faria Lima, 3400 – 20th Floor Faria Lima Financial Center 04538-132 – São Paulo – SP