Abstract
The iron industry in Japan has been reconstructed beyond expecta-tion since the end of the World War II and all the present installations are preumed to come shortly into full operation. At that time the yearly production of pig iron will amount to 5, 000, 000 t and coking coal required 7, 700, 000 t. From technical and economical view points of blast furnace operations, the coke is required to have high strength, low ash-content as well as superior chemical properties. Though the claim to the strength of coke has been fairly reduced by the sizing of ore, 3, 060, 000 t of foreign strongly-coking coals will be still necessary. The following methods for improving the coke quality are now in practice or under consideration; (1) prep-aration of coal charged, (2) blending of foreign strongly-coking coals and (3) blending of fine semi-coke, coke or other materials. With development of these methods, it is expected to produce coke from the resources we have or shall have in near future.
