Japan’s JFE Steel has completed construction and started operations at a new coke oven battery at its West Japan Works (Fukuyama district), following performance testing completed on August 31.
The new No. 6 Coke Oven A battery uses stamp-charging technology, marking the first application of the technology at a large coke oven in Japan. Unlike conventional top-charging systems, the technology compacts pulverized coal before charging it into the oven from the side using a charging and pushing machine.
JFE Steel said the stamp-charging system is expected to improve production efficiency and support more environmentally conscious operations. The higher bulk density of compacted coal is also expected to improve coke quality and reduce operating costs compared with the conventional top-charging method.
The project involved an investment of around JPY 45 bln and was carried out from May 2023 to August 2026. The new coke oven has annual production capacity of approximately 420,000 tons and consists of 52 ovens.
With the commissioning of the new facility, JFE Steel’s Fukuyama Works now has four coke oven batteries. The No. 3 A and B batteries have annual capacities of 360,000 tons each, while the No. 5 battery has annual capacity of 1.52 mln tons. The No. 6 A battery adds a further 420,000 tons per year.
JFE Steel Corporation is a major steel producer formed in 2002 by the merger of NKK and Kawasaki Steel. As the core steelmaking arm of JFE Holdings, it manufactures a wide range of high-value-added steel products and operates integrated steel plants across Japan, while maintaining a significant footprint in India, China, and North America.