PJSC Zaporizhkoks, one of the largest producers of coke-chemical products in Ukraine, which is part of the Metinvest group, in January-November this year increased its production by 3.2% compared to the same period last year – up to 779,400 tonnes.
According to the company, 67,600 tonnes of blast furnace coke were produced in November, 68,300 tonnes in October.
“The decrease in coke production in November 2020 is due to the overhaul of coke oven battery No. 6 with a total budget of UAH 90 million,” the company explained.
As reported, Zaporizhkoks in 2019 increased production by 0.3% compared to the previous year – up to 827,500 tonnes.
Zaporizhkoks produces about 10% of coke produced in Ukraine, owns a full technological cycle of processing coke-chemical products. In addition, it produces coke oven gas and pitch coke.
Ukrainian coke chemical plants in January-July 2018 increased production of 6% moisture metallurgical coke by 6.1% compared to the same period last year, to 6.311 million tonnes.
The Ukrkoks association (Dnipro) told Interfax-Ukraine some 944,000 tonnes of coke were produced in July.
Ukrkoks Director General Anatoliy Starovoit said coke chemical plants continue to work as normal, providing metallurgical enterprises with coke according to the existing production plans.
“However, in recent days the demand on the part of metallurgists for the supply of coke has decreased: for example, in the last 10-15 days the daily production of gross coke was on average 25,000-26,000 tonnes, while earlier the figure stood at 28,000-29,000 tonnes. Probably, blast furnace operators are repairing the aggregates or for another reason. Coke has not been imported in recent months,” the association said.
At the same time, it is noted that imports of coking coal increased and coking plants are provided with coal in sufficient quantities.
According to preliminary data, in 2018 it is planned to increase pig iron smelting by 12.1% compared to the previous year, to 22.5 million tonnes. This volume of cast iron production requires 11.250 million tonnes of coke (an increase of 8.2% compared to 2017), which, in turn, requires 17.8-17.9 million tonnes of coking coal (an increase of 24.6%).
In 2018, the volume of supplies of coking coals of Ukrainian extraction is expected to be about 3.3 million tonnes, while 14.6 million tonnes is to be imported.
Previously, the plan for 2018 foresaw the volume of pig iron smelting in the amount of 22 million tonnes.
Ukrainian by-product coke plants increased production of lump coke with 6% moisture by 4.7% in January-March 2018 year-over-year, to 2.705 million tonnes.
The Ukrkoks association of -product coke enterprises (Dnipro) told Interfax-Ukraine that some 930,000 tonnes of coke was made in March.
Ukrkoks Director General Anatoliy Starovoit said that the plants stably produce coke. Avdiyivka by-product coke plant and ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih are loaded almost in full.
ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih launched the reconstructed coke-oven battery five. It is planned that the battery will reach its full capacity in May, Starovoit said.
He said that in January-March 2018 some 233,000 tonnes of coke was imported.
“ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih did not import coke in March… Azovstal and Dniprovsky steel works imported coke last month,” he said.
