BHP Steel International's Newcastle blast. furnaces have operated since their caimissioning on cake based on local low rank coals. In the early 1960's Newcastle coke was believed to be the weakest in the world. Newcastle coke now supports a blast furnace operation with a productivity of 2.1 t/d.rn IV, a fuel rate of 490 kg/t and a coke rate of 415 kg/t._x000D_
This coke is nuudv from blonds of lcxni and southern Sydney basin coals with blend Ro nex in the range 0.94 - 1.01._x000D_
Blast furnace performance in periods of differing coal blends is conjured. The relationship between coal aril coke quality indices and blast. fin-mice perforrnarcc.e is discussed as well as the relevance of conventional coke tests._x000D_
New BHP coke tests are referred to.