US Steel Invests Alternative Coke for US$ 220 Million

US Steel started construction of alternative coke making process, Cokonyx at Gary works in Indiana, USA for more than US$ 220 million starting operation as early as in 2 years. The firm tries to improve the cost structure and environmental counteraction through the domestic first commercial plant with lower capital expenditure and lower environmental impact. The chairman John Surma said to a reporter of Japan Metal Bulletin at site of World Steel Association’s annual meeting in Tokyo on Tuesday the firm focuses on higher value including quality and cost, not volume expansion, through the new technology and expansion of high strength steel production based on tie-up with Kobe Steel.

Cokonyx is to make alternative coke for blast furnace from coal through new technology, Carbonyx. The process has flexibility in production and maintenance by adjusting the line speed, which was difficult for traditional coke oven.

The process has advantage in lower investment and state of the art emission controlling system for sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide along with flexible coal blends. The first process is to make annual 500,000 tonnes of the product covering around 20% of requirement at Gary. The firm is building traditional coke oven at facility in Pennsylvania, USA for US$ 500 million after the firm finished coke project at Granit City facility in Illinois.

Mr. Surma said the firm talks in technical topics with Kobe Steel to agreement on new continuous annealing line. He said the line provides ability to supply high strength cold rolled flat steel for automakers expanding the market share while the firm already provides high strength steel in coated products.

Mr. Surma said the firm considers wider technology exchange with JFE Steel and indicated potential joint venture with JFE Steel in future.