With prices of coal and other materials associated with steelmaking on the rise, Kobe Steel Ltd. plans to develop technology that will help reduce coke costs by 30%-40%, The Nikkei reported. Because coke is mixed and fused with iron ore in blast furnaces, it needs to be strong enough to withstand the weight of iron ore. Regular coke is produced from bituminous coal that is priced higher than coal used for power-generating purposes. Kobe Steel seeks to come up with technology that will allow it to mix in an organic additive that helps to increase the strength of the lower-priced coal. The steelmaker hopes to commercialize the technology within 10 years.
