Enhancement of Flexibility in Coke Production and Effects on Coke Quality

摘要

Following years of high-level production the second half of 1998 was characterized by a significant downward swing in Europe's steel market. The reasons for this have been discussed at length and need not be dealt with here. Along with the pig iron production slump the demand for blast furnace coke went down as well. In 1998 Deutsche Steinkohle AG (DSK) operated the coking plants Kaiserstuhl and Prosper producing a total of 3.6 mill. Tons of blast furnace coke per year. However, since the steel mills as clients expressed their intention to purchase only 2.2 mill. of coke per annum, DSK found itself in a position where production had to be matched to sales that could be expected. Reasonable alternatives were as follows: 1. Stocking Surplus Production on Dumps 2. Partial Shutdown of a Coking Plant 3. Lower Production to Significantly Below 80 percent. Alternative 1 had to be waived since handling costs were too high and there was doubt as to future selling prospects of the stocked coke volumes.