JFE Steel Starts New Coke Battery at Fukuyama

JFE Steel started the operation of a new coke battery of no.5 coke plant in Fukuyama area at West Japan works on Thursday. The coke output capacity increased to around 10 million tonnes per year at West Japan works with the completion of the new battery. The works can provide coke almost for itself with the expanded capacity. The construction of the oven started in May 2004. Hirohisa Nakashima, general manager of West Japan works, expected that the completion of the new coke battery and the repair of no.4 blast furnace in Fukuyama area could contribute to the output capacity expansion of West Japan works. The crude steel production would increase to 21.5 million tonnes per year at West Japan works and to 30 million tonnes per year at JFE Steel totally.The West Japan works purchased coke from outer sources including other works of JFE Steel along with more pulverized coal injection by expansion of the capacity to supplement the shortage of coke output capacity. However, under the worldwide tight supply and surging price of coke and lower productivity of existing old coke ovens, the firm decided to build new battery at Fukuyama in 2004, which is first new battery for Fukuyama in 30 years and also first for the firm in 26 years.