Title

RELIABLE MET COKE SUPPLY – THE QUEENSLAND RESPONSE

RELIABLE MET COKE SUPPLY – THE QUEENSLAND RESPONSE

Authorship

WOOD, DENIS

WOOD, DENIS

I am this author

DOI

10.5151/2594-357x-7MinFe-v1- 789-798

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Abstract

The ability of blast furnace operators to obtain reliable and consistent high quality metallurgical coke is a fundamental element in efficient iron production. To date this coke has been mainly sourced from captive facilities and supplemented by purchases from third party sources. As coke batteries continue to age and replacement requires substantial capital to meet current environmental and occupational and health standards, steelmakers are increasingly looking at the viability of external coke sources to provide a greater portion of their coke requirements. While the current international coke trade has been able to satisfy a portion of this requirement, the recent unprecedented volatility in spot coke prices, saw FOB prices rise from less than US$100 per tonne to excess US$450 per tonne over a period of about 12 months only to fall almost as rapidly, combined with export volume uncertainty, has caused steelmakers to look for reliable alternative third party coke supply options. Queensland Coke and Energy Pty Ltd is currently looking to satisfy this need by constructing a modern heat recovery coke facility at Stanwell in Central Queensland, the source of the majority of the worlds premium export coking coal. The site has the advantage of well established infrastructure, access to a wide range of coking coals and cooperative State and Federal Governments. Supported by long term contracts with steel mills in North Asia, Europe and South America, the coke facility will produce up to 3.2 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa) of coke. The coke facility is to be developed in stages with each stage having a capacity of 0.8Mtpa. Waste heat will be recovered for power generation. The heat recovery process combined with stamp charging will provide considerable environmental advantages compared with conventional by-product coke ovens. The coke facility will also have the ability to use locally available weaker coking coals. The advantage to the buyers is capital savings, consistent high quality coke and supply reliability at a price which is isolated from the vagaries of the spot market.

The ability of blast furnace operators to obtain reliable and consistent high quality metallurgical coke is a fundamental element in efficient iron production. To date this coke has been mainly sourced from captive facilities and supplemented by purchases from third party sources. As coke batteries continue to age and replacement requires substantial capital to meet current environmental and occupational and health standards, steelmakers are increasingly looking at the viability of external coke sources to provide a greater portion of their coke requirements. While the current international coke trade has been able to satisfy a portion of this requirement, the recent unprecedented volatility in spot coke prices, saw FOB prices rise from less than US$100 per tonne to excess US$450 per tonne over a period of about 12 months only to fall almost as rapidly, combined with export volume uncertainty, has caused steelmakers to look for reliable alternative third party coke supply options. Queensland Coke and Energy Pty Ltd is currently looking to satisfy this need by constructing a modern heat recovery coke facility at Stanwell in Central Queensland, the source of the majority of the worlds premium export coking coal. The site has the advantage of well established infrastructure, access to a wide range of coking coals and cooperative State and Federal Governments. Supported by long term contracts with steel mills in North Asia, Europe and South America, the coke facility will produce up to 3.2 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa) of coke. The coke facility is to be developed in stages with each stage having a capacity of 0.8Mtpa. Waste heat will be recovered for power generation. The heat recovery process combined with stamp charging will provide considerable environmental advantages compared with conventional by-product coke ovens. The coke facility will also have the ability to use locally available weaker coking coals. The advantage to the buyers is capital savings, consistent high quality coke and supply reliability at a price which is isolated from the vagaries of the spot market.

Keywords

Coke spot market, Heat recovery coke making, Environmental advantage, Queensland.

Coke spot market, Heat recovery coke making, Environmental advantage, Queensland.