These variations in furnace sizes directly impact coke quality requirements, as larger furnaces often demand higher quality coke with superior strength and reactivity characteristics. With the anticipated increase in blast furnace sizes, there is a growing emphasis on enhancing coke quality to improve efficiency and reduce emissions.
The availability of base coal near coke plants is crucial for the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of coke production. Proximity of coal sources to coke plants is crucial for cost-effectiveness and operational efficiency. Closer coal sources lead to lower transportation costs, reduced supply chain risks, and more consistent production schedules, enhancing market competitiveness. The importance of major coal-producing countries like Australia and Canada is significant when considering CIF (Cost, Insurance, Freight) pricing. CIF includes the cost of goods, insurance, and freight to the destination port, making geographical distance from these producers a substantial factor in the final coking coal cost. Coke plants with advantageous locations relative to coal sources or efficient transportation routes can achieve better cost structures, potentially offering more competitive pricing in the market.
Different types of coke ovens, such as stamp-charged and top-charged, along with quenching equipment like CDQ (Coke Dry Quenching) and CWQ (Coke Wet Quenching), have distinct impacts on coke strength. Stamp-charged ovens notably enhance CSR (Coke Strength after Reaction) compared to top-charged ovens, enabling the use of a broader range of coal types in the blend. Understanding the prevalence of stamp-charged ovens is essential for assessing future coal quality needs. However, coke produced in stamp-charged ovens poses challenges for use in large-capacity blast furnaces.
Different types of coke ovens indeed influence the coke blend. For example, stamp-charged ovens allow for a wider variety of coal types in the blend, enhancing the CSR (Coke Strength after Reaction). On the other hand, top-charged ovens have different blending requirements and may not offer the same flexibility. Understanding these differences is crucial for optimizing coke production and meeting specific quality requirements.
The demand for low-volatile coking coal is expected to rise due to several factors. Although the adoption of stamp-charged coke ovens will increase the proportion of high-volatile semi-soft coking coal in blends, gas processing limitations will require the inclusion of low-volatile coal to maintain acceptable volatile matter levels. Additionally, the supply of Premium Low-vol Hard Coking Coal is anticipated to decrease, positioning Mid VM Hard Coking Coal as the primary component of future blends.
This presentation will explore three key factors that shape purchasing decisions for coking coal among demand-side customers:
1.Coke Quality Requirements vs. Blast Furnace size
2. Availability and proximity of base coal
3. Impact of coke oven type on coke blends and coking coal demand
 
Min Li (Jenny) | Senior Coal Market Analyst, Wood Mackenzie

• Impact of USA tariffs on steel and steelmaking raw materials
• Tariffs effects on steel imports and met coal demand
• Change in sourcing strategy/ trade flow
• Europe’s EAF Boom: The Death of Coke or Just a Shift in Demand
• Coke Oven Closures: From the OECD to Asia—The Global Steel Realignment
• Metallurgical coke production shifts to the eastern hemisphere

Melvin Chan | Metallurgical Coke and Coal Analyst, CRU

Panelist: Myles Perrin, VP Trading and Marketing, Square Resource
Dr. Ahmed S. Firoz, Former Chief Economist, Ministry of Steel India
Abhijit Sur Roy Chowdhury,General Manager - India & Sub Continent Region at C&D Steel International
Moderator:
Dr. Neil J. Bristow | Managing Director , H&W Worldwide Consulting Pty Ltd

• Based on the defect formation mechanism in coke, we developed the technologies to reduce defects in coke efficiently, and applied them to actual cokemaking process.
• Over a long period of three years, we achieved to produce high-strength coke, despite a world-class high blending ratio of semi-soft coking coal, 74%.
• These technologies have expanded the flexibility of coal resources and  contributed to low cost of coke production, low coke ratio operation of  blast furnace.
• It is a necessary that minimum amount of coke to ensure the permeability of reducing gas and hot metal and slag in the future hydrogen blast furnaces.  Therefore, these technologies are expected to greatly contribute to low  carbonization operation of blast furnaces from now and into the future.

Dr. Yukihiro Kubota | General Manager, Head of Coal & Coke Research , Nippon Steel Corporation

The paper describes the successful, safe & timely execution of the challenging hot full wall rebuild project (design, supply, installation & commissioning) by Fosbel within the planned timeline in two adjacent heating walls 5.5 m tall stamp-charged coke oven battery of JSW Steel’s BPSL works in India. Fosbel completed the design engineering of the MICOWALL® shapes & supplied all the fused silica shapes. The installation & commissioning of the ovens was completed on time with all necessary safety protocols in place and without any safety incident in this challenging hot repair job. The project was executed round the clock by Fosbel team without any adverse impact on regular daily coke production target of the plant. This was the result of teamwork by JSW Steel’s coke oven operations & refractory teams and the Fosbel India project team including technical experts. The wall dismantling started in the 2nd week of October’24 after initial preparatory work and the fully rebuilt ovens were charged within the last week of December’24. Special installation methodology with heating & bracing regulation (including buffer ovens) and mechanical structural work was undertaken. All the rebuilt ovens reached full coal cake charge height with normal pushing current and temperature profile within the 1st week of January’25. This is the first time two full heating wall rebuilding job have been simultaneously done in a running coke oven battery in India with MICOWALL® technology.

Dipankar Banerjee |Business Unit Director, Iron & Steel, Cement & Non-Ferrous, Fosbel India Private Ltd
Co-presenting with
Mohit Sharma|Deputy General Manager, JSW Steel

With the growing global efforts to reduce the carbon intensity of iron and steelmaking and increasingly stringent environmental regulations, it is critical to understand the role of metallurgical coal in developing low-carbon ironmaking technologies. These include modification of blast furnace operations to allow introduction of alternative reductants (green H₂, coke oven gas, natural gas, etc.) and top has recycling in blast furnace operations, among other solutions. There is also a growing effort to partially substitute metallurgical coke with renewable carbon sources such as biomass and waste materials. The changes in reaction environments and the use of additives in cokemaking and ironmaking impact the coal and coke behaviour and quality requirements. A fundamental and systematic understanding of these changes on blast furnace performance and coke quality is required to support the sustainable use of metallurgical coal in emerging ironmaking technologies. Australia, the largest exporter of metallurgical coal, plays a pivotal role in addressing the Scope 3 emissions associated with steel manufacturing. Hence, Australia has invested heavily in the development of metallurgical coke to support low-carbon blast furnace ironmaking. This presentation provides an overview of the recent research activities at the University of Newcastle, in collaboration with several other Australian institutions.
 
Dr. Arash Tahmasebi | Director - BHP Centre for Sustainable Steelmaking Research, Newcastle Institute for Energy and Resources (NIER), University of Newcastle

In recent years, a notable trend has emerged in Asia, where numerous coke oven plants with multiple smaller batteries have been decommissioned and replaced by single facilities utilizing Jumbo coke oven technology, complemented by single oven pressure control systems. This trend is evident in both top-charged and stamp-charged coke oven plants. 
Jumbo coke oven batteries offer substantial benefits, including compliance with stringent environmental regulations, reduced spatial requirements, and decreased capital (CAPEX) and operational expenditures (OPEX). 
This presentation will showcase several successful projects involving top-charged and stamp-charged coke oven plants in India, Indonesia, Taiwan, Korea, and China.
 
Alessio Ferraris | Head of Technical Service Coke & Technical Sales Manager , SMS Group Italy

The growing demand for environmental sustainability in industrial processes has highlighted the need for innovaƟve technologies that can opƟmize both producƟon efficiency and ecological impact. GORATOR®, the "Green Keeper," represents a cuƫng-edge soluƟon for the modernizaƟon of tradiƟonal coke tar processes, addressing both operaƟonal and environmental challenges in coke plants.
Mehul Raval | Managing Director, SteelsMaveg LLP

Dr. Arvind Bodhankar | Chief Sustainability Officer, Arcelor Mittal Nippon Steel

Asia’s steel market is experiencing rapid expansion, fueled by strong demand and intensifying pressures to reduce carbon emissions. In our presentation, Meranti Green Steel explores how sustainable steel production can drive both profitability and resilience in the evolving marketplace. We will highlight the rising influence of carbon pricing, regulatory frameworks, and shifting investor priorities, illustrating why green steel is no longer a mere ESG checkbox but a strategic business imperative.
A key focus will be Meranti’s integrated supply chain, anchored by Oman’s emerging role as a green iron hub. This approach leverages cost-efficient raw material sourcing, readiness for hydrogen-based production, and an export-oriented footprint across Southeast Asia. We will share insights into how a gradual transition from natural gas to green hydrogen can maintain competitive costs while significantly reducing carbon emissions.
Lastly, we will address the importance of industry-wide collaboration—through investments, partnerships, and supportive policies—to overcome the cost barriers of green steel adoption. Our objective will be to start the conversation on how best to capitalize on Asia’s market opportunities and position themselves at the forefront of sustainable, profitable steelmaking.
 
Andrew Fang | Senior Director Organization Development, Meranti Green Steel

• will biocoke be an option for steelmaking climate neutrality?
• additives to coal blend: state-of-art / row biomass, torefied biomass, charcoal, waste plastics, thermolized waste plastics 
• coke quality, the influence of additives type and yield for coke quality
• Blend preparation problems, how to get a homogeneous blend?
• Is biocoke "green" enough? How to calculate the carbon footprint for biocoke?
• How to control and measure "the green" part of biocoke?
• Biocoke - is it a profitable business for coke plat operator? Simply model of costs analysis.

Aleksander Sobolewski | Director, Institute of Energy and Fuel Processing Technology

ByoCoke is the first bio-based material engineered to perform identically to hard coking coal—without modification to existing steel plants. It withstands the crushing weight of the burden, endures the thermal shock of the blast furnace, and integrates seamlessly into the high-stakes precision of iron ore reduction. No retooling. No compromise. A true drop-in replacement. But a breakthrough means nothing without scale. ByoMax has mastered the art of industrial production. Leveraging an end-to-end purification system and a secure feedstock network, we can supply steelmakers with the volumes they need—consistently, reliably, and without disruption. The era of metallurgical coal is drawing to a close. The steel industry has long sought an alternative.
Kevin Bingwa | Founder & CEO, ByoMax