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Agenda

AsiaCoke 2024 agenda is coming!
Registration and Opening Remarks
Stage Sponsored by Xcoal
Opening Speech
Smithers
 
Session 1: Coke, Coal and Steel market outlook
Steel and Coke markets have seen volatility and poor market conditions of late, what happens next?
1.    The steel market has seen many challenges emerge over the past 18 months, here is an overview: 
Impact of high inflation, high energy prices and high interest rates on steel producers and steel demand.
Challenges for steelmakers in terms of poor margin, high raw material costs ( coke, coking coal and iron ore)
The challenge of increased volume of competitive Chinese steel exports. How is this affecting steel mills in Asia and beyond?
2.    Coking coal supply continues to lag demand for coke/coking coal. 
When will the supply-demand balance ‘normalise’  and when can we expect prices to normalise?
Australian supply performance has been the major culprit – what is the supply outlook in terms of recovery of existing supply as well as new projects? 
What impact is ESG having on coking coal supply?
Why is Russian supply pulling out of the market?
When will the domestic Chinese market balance loosen?
3.    Disruption and evolution await the global coke market.
Challenging market conditions will continue in 2024/25 for Coke makers -  discussion of CRU’s market outlook for the merchant coke market in terms of price, trade and capacity. 
Expanding coke capacity in Indonesia threatens to disrupt seaborne coke trade – how fast will this change be and what will be the impact?
Banmeet Khurmi | Senior Analyst – Metallurgical Coal & Coke, CRU Group
Future of coke making in Europe. New investments – is it realistic?
  • “green steel” before 2050 – is it realistic?
  • feedstock – production of coking coal in Europe
  • present coke capacity in EU countries
  • environmental regulations – permits for new battery construction
  • BAT Conclusions : new emission limits – higher costs
  • “Green deal” – influence for coke production operating costs
  • workers – how to find new young cokemakers?
  • bio-coke – interesting option for next 20 years 
  • cost of production (CAPEX, OPEX) vs predicted market prices of coke up to 2040

Aleksander Sobolewski | Director, Institute of Energy and Fuel Processing Technology
Global metallurgical coal long term outlook
  • Historical seaborne met coal prices, what has changed and how it impacts our near and long-term price forecast 
  • China has historically set the price for seaborne premium hard-coking coal. How has this dynamic changed with India emerging as the new seaborne price setter. 
  • Near-term implications for global metallurgical coal demand and supply. 
  • Global steel and metallurgical coal demand to 2050. The increase of DRI and scrap and what it means for demand. Efficiency-led reductions in coke rates and when we see hydrogen making an impact. 
  • Highlight the most important demand and supply countries for met coal to 2050. Which demand countries are on the rise and where will the metallurgical coal come from? 
  • Operating and capital costs, project development across major suppliers, deal implied and breakeven prices and what it ultimately means for our long term price forecast. 

Min Li (Jenny) | Senior Coal Market Analyst, Wood Mackenzie
Tea break and Networking -Sponsored by thyssenkrupp Uhde
Impact of Freight Volatility on Global Metcoal Trade Dynamics
  • Global metcoal trade review 
  • Dry bulk shipping fleet growth review & outlook
  • Global economic outlook and recent geopolitical issues' impact on metcoal trade and freight

Pranay Shukla | Director, S&P Global Commodity Insights
Session 2: Coke & Coal technical updates
Novel Technology for Effective and Efficient Utilization of Coal Resources in Coke making Process Based on Unique Evaluations of Coal Adhesiveness and Thermoplasticity
  • Problems of conventional coal-selecting and coal
  • blending techniques 
  • Basic concept of the novel technology; “Advance MOF diagram system” 
  • “Permeation distance” measurements especially for evaluating high MF coals 
  • “Surface tension” measurements especially for evaluating low MF coals 
  • “Chemically accelerated test (CAT)” especially for evaluating non-caking coals

Yusuke Dohi | Senior Researcher, Steel Research Laboratory at JFE Steel
Lunch and Networking
Qi today Experimental methodology: A Powerful Tool of Evaluating coal coking Performance and Properties-Test and Application
Re-understanding of the coking mechanism of coking coal: derived coking mechanism
In-depth exploration of the coking mechanism of coking coal is the theoretical basis for scientific evaluation of coal quality characteristics, directional control of the coking process,
 development of refined coal blending and coking technology, and customized production of high-quality coke.
 
Meijun Wang | Professor, Taiyuan University of Technology
Evaluation and improvement direction of coke quality
Based on a systematic study of tuyere coke  of a super large blast furnace , it is proved that the alkali load of the blast furnace, the ratio of anisotropy to isotropy microstructure composition, and the MBI index of coke have a significant impact on the smelting behavior of coke in the blast furnace. It is recommended to consider the smelting environment inside the furnace (such as alkali load) when evaluating the performance of coke; To some extent, a little more anisotropic components in the microstructure of coke is good for its behavior in furnace. Isotropic components are of great significance for coke to resist alkali metal accelerated carbon dissolution reactions; The ash content of coke has a significant impact on its thermal strength and blast furnace operation. For the improvement of coke quality, it is recommended to appropriately increase the content of isotropic components in coke, while focusing on the oxide content of iron, calcium, and magnesium. Finally, the reliability of the above conclusion is confirmed by the actual effect of improving the production indicators of the super large blast furnace.
Dongtao Li | Senior Engineer, Shougang Research Institute of Technology
Innovative Coke Transportation
The role of coke plant in an integrated steel mill is yet dominant from the point of view of fulfilling fuel requirements of blast furnace and downstream mills. Despite the sustained call for actions by environmentalists to move towards green steel making by minimizing usage of coke, the trend still persists in favour coke dependant iron making, may be for another few decades! Bhilai Steel Plant is the flagship of Steel Authority of India Limited, an ISP with a capacity of 7.0 MTPA. Coke is conveyed to blast furnaces from the coke plant comprising 4.0 mt tall and 7.0 mt tall batteries. The wet quenched coke is transported to blast furnaces through interplant conveyor galleries with more than 30 drops en route. 
While this has been the standard material conveying system in vogue, on one occasion, a critical conveyor in the network failed, thus crippling the coke offtake to major hot metal producing furnaces. Due to sudden haulting of coke transport, coke production also suffered a setback. To avoid a major collapse in entire plant performance, it was decided to make use of ore transfer car running at blast furnace high lines to deliver coke. With interplant coordination, this innovative method was approved after a mini demonstration onsite. With no investment, this mode of coke transport still serves as an alternate and sustainable coke route since last 25 years enabling timely compliance of shutdown and maintenance requirements of major and critical conveyors without affecting either coke plant or blast furnace. 
G.S. Venkata Subramanian | Ex-General Manager, BHILAI STEEL PLANT, Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL)
Tea break and Networking
Session 3: Asia towards green development
A review of coal applications and perceptions of the steel making industry under the influence of environmental concerns at a global level
  • Coal applications need to be reevaluated to account for environmental concerns 
  • Hydrogen will be the predominant reducing agent in steel making 
  • Coal liquefaction as a sustainable alternative for hydrogen generation

Saeid Kamalpour | Founder of GlobInK & Technical Engineer at North American Stainless, Acerinox Group
Substitute materials for coal in decarbonizing met coke production
By 2052, more than 40% of global steel production will still rely on met coke. Therefore, it is more than paramount to determine ways to decarbonize coke production. One of the ways to do so is through finding substitute materials to replace coal in the feed to the coke ovens. A lot of effort has been put in this regard in various countries, and some of the major studied materials include plastic waste, wood and wood residues, heavy tar and oil. Nevertheless, there is a lot of potential for using sugarcane by-products, such as in Brazil and India. In Brazil, most of the applications include dealing with bagasse, molasses, and straw for power generation, or simply burning the residue due to the lack of application. The objective of this paper is to provide an overview on the various substitute materials, the latest achievements and investigations, and what the entanglements are to introduce these materials in industrial scale, so as to effectively decarbonize met coke production further. One process step that can help in introducing such materials is stamp charging, which will be used in industrial-scale testing to provide further information on the use of sugarcane by-products for that purpose. 
•    Plastics are used in few plants, at the rate of 1% w/w; Heavy tar and oil are used in some plants; 
•    Wood has been tested in pilot-plant scale; 
•    Sugar cane has a lot of potential as a substitute material.
 
Douglas Richter | Process and Sales Engineer , thyssenkrupp Uhde
Panel Discussion: The challenges and opportunities for Asia's green steel market
  • Green production and the involvement of each country in Asia
  • India and China's effort on green production and the challenges we are facing
  • Green Steel opportunities in Asia
Dongtao Li | Senior Engineer, Shougang Research Institute of Technology
Aleksander Sobolewski | Director, Institute of Energy and Fuel Processing Technology
Dr. Yukihiro Kubota | Chief Manager, Coal & Coke Research Department, Nippon Steel Corporation
Moderator:
Frank Redemann | Head of Sales, thyssenkrupp Uhde
Drink Reception
Sponsored by Fosbel
The drink reception is included in your ticket!


End of Day 1
Session 4: Coke and Coal Development in Regions (India, Indonesia, New Zealand and Colombia)
Metcoke Market in India in the Context of Iron and Steel Industry Growth
It’s to assess the broad market size and industry landscape, imports, competitiveness and environmental issues and how the metcoke industry is coping with it. This presentation will be more focused on the iron and steel industry growth and technology transformation with potential decarbonization
Dr. Ahmed S. Firoz | Former Chief Economist, Economist Research Unit, Ministry of Steel India
The development of Indonesian coking projects and its impact on the global coke market
New Zealand Coking Coal in the Context of Emissions Reduction in Iron Making
  • Steel growth in India
  • Comments on EAF & Hydrogen steel making
  • Drivers of coke rate in the B/F
  • Coke blend design to reduce emissions
  • (Potentially comments on biomass use)

Dr. Rob Boyd | Technical Marketing Manager, BT Mining
Tea break and Networking
Colombia at the Crossroads: Just Energy Transition in the Coal and Coke Mining Sector
Colombia coke market, supply for coking coal from Colombia, coking coal, BF Coke, ULP Coke from Colombia - Economic challenges and climate change present complexities in the coal and coke market's supply chain. - The need for supply chain efficiency connects producers and consumers, emphasizing a shift toward sustainable raw materials and carbon-neutral processes. - Colombia, with its mining sector led by small and medium-scale miners, can play a crucial role in a just transition by enhancing the producer network. - The panel aims to explore Colombia's current situation, address challenges in energy transition, and present an integrative vision to transform the mining sector into a strategic player dedicated to global emission reduction.
Byron Falla Delgado | Chief Future Officer, Conexus Minerals SAS
Session 5: Coke Oven
Health diagnostics & life extension strategies for coke oven batteries
With the Coke Oven-BF – BOF route remaining the mainstay of majority of greenfield & brownfield steel capacity expansions in India & Southeast Asia, life extension of operating coke oven Batteries & ensuring long asset life in upcoming new coke ovens, especially tall stamp-charged batteries, is of vital importance to integrated steel plants. This presentation will cover the use of Battery Health Diagnostic tools with the help of COMITTM (Coke Oven Management Information Technology) System developed by Fosbel for reporting, tracking & condition monitoring of the health of operating coke oven batteries and the use of such tools in deciding on appropriate maintenance & repair strategies to prolong operating life & oven availability in the coke plant . The presentation will cover Fosbel’s technologies for inspection, hot repair & online maintenance practices for coke oven battery life extension & operational efficiency. The repair & maintenance practices presented cover major focus areas of coke oven battery viz. Refractories, Anchorage, Heating regulation & Technological Cleaning.
The presentation will also cover maintenance practices to ensure compliance to environmental & fugitive emission control norms which is of utmost importance today to ensure long-term sustainable operation of coke ovens.
 
Dipankar Banerjee | Business Unit Director, Iron & Steel, Cement & Non-Ferrous , Fosbel India Private Ltd
High-capacity stamp charging coke oven batteries – the future in coke making
To accompany the transition to green steel making an environmentally friendly and reliable coke production remains essential for the blast furnace route in countries with increasing demand of steel. To ensure the steel capacity expansion plans in countries like India or other countries in Asia, high-capacity coke oven batteries are required. Same applies for the replacement of existing coke plants with state-of-the- art technology production facilities. Since availability of high-quality coking coal is declining on the one hand and the prices are higher on the other hand. the use of lower grade coking coals becomes more dominant. To cope with these challenges stamp charging provides a reliable solution.
Just recently 2 projects have been commissioned successfully in China with 6 coke oven batteries, 6.0 mpta capacity and in total 400 coke ovens. Beside of the fact that this stamp charging coke ovens are the tallest in world with a chamber height of 6.78m, most recent environmental features have been applied. All batteries are equipped with EnviBAT® for individual oven pressure regulation to control emissions successfully throughout the entire coking process. To complement the high efficiency of the plants COKEMASTER™ ensures precise heating and production control. Moreover, this presentation will present an overview about the applied technology and challenges coped during the execution.
 
Arkadius Gorski | Project Manager & Engineering Manager, thyssenkrupp
Lunch and Networking
Controlling Refractory Lining Leaks as a Tool for Extending the Life of Coke Oven Batteries
Modern management of a coke plant is based on long-term economical use of production tools and the environmental impact of coke production. Since the early 1990s, FIBS teams have collaborated with coke plants around the world to develop tools for the control of the degradation process including among others endoscopy, ceramic welding and liquid dusting. Those technologies are focussed on the reduction of all types of leakages.  
 
Matthieu LEHEUT | Deputy GM & Global Sales Manager, FIB Services International S.A.
Managing High Roof Graphite in Top-charged Tall Batteries
It’s always challenging to maintain desired temperature gradient along the height of ovens in taller recovery type coke oven batteries. As a result, there is tendency of high graphite formation on oven roof due to cracking of raw coke oven gas if free space temperature at oven roof is higher than design norms. High roof graphite leads to multiple operational issues which can impact not only the production but also, the long-term health of
batteries. This paper describes analysis of reasons of high roof graphite formation in 7.6meter tall top charged coke oven battery of Tata Steel Meramandali since commissioning of the plant in 2024, the operational problems faced due to this, corrective
 actions taken to dislodge accumulated graphite for once and to correct temperature gradient along height of the ovens to control graphite formation on long term basis.
1. Top charged 7.6m tall coke oven battery at Tata Steel Meramandali was faced with the issue of high roof graphite on oven roof which was leading to many operational issues including impact on long life of the battery.
2. Thermal regime of the battery was deviated resulting on high temperature at the top of ovens.
3. Operational management in this condition was leading to loss in oven productivity in addition to adverse impact of battery health.
4. Various steps were taken through changes in the operational practices to dislodge accumulated graphite from ovens.
5. Thermal regime was corrected by to bring down oven roof temperature closer to design norms to minimize the graphite formation.
6. Consequently, the issue of high graphite formation was resolved and productivity of ovens was also improved.
 
Virendra Singh | Chief of Coke Plants, Tata Steel Meramandali
Session 6: Solutions and End of event panel
Technology based insights to monitor the global economics of coal and steel demand
  • How production at industrial units such as steel mills can be monitored on the demand side. Coverage includes China, India, Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, Turkey, Taiwan and Europe Steel productions 
  • How mining activity of coal can be monitored. Coverage includes all the important coal mines in Australia and other regions
  • How can inventory of coal be monitored at the source ports., destination ports and other strategic areas. Coverage includes all the important source ports such as Australia and Destination ports such as China
  • Use cases on how near real-time insights help companies across the supply chain. Profile includes 3 of the world’s biggest coal traders
2 of the world’s biggest steel producers
2 of the world’s biggest financial institutions
1 of the world’s biggest miner
2 of the worlds largest dry bulk fleet owners
SMEs such as small steel producers
 
Himangshu Das | Co-founder and Chief Data Officer , Tathya Earth
Let’s talk about the Asia and Global Coke and Coal markets in the Future?
  • What‘s the market status in SEA for Met coke?
  • APAC met coal demand and future development.
  • Green production and the involvement of each countries in Asia
Panelist:
Dr. Ahmed Firoz| Former Chief Economist, Ministry of Steel Government of India
Cian Cafferky | Marketing and Trading, Xcoal
Saeid Kamalpour | Founder of GlobInK & Technical Engineer at North American Stainless, Acerinox Group

Moderator:
Min Li (Jenny) | Senior Coal Market Analyst, Wood Mackenzie
End of Day 2