Sijing cokeworks

The Sijing cokeworks near Jixi appear to use the open kiln technique to produce coke, The works was not accessible and so resort was made to climbing a bank that gave a view over the operating area. Unfortunately this was against the light but did allow a look at the large number of kilns set out in rows. Only a few seemed to be in operation at this time, and these are in the far row. The ovens are 17mm x 4m x 2.5m high and a charge of coal takes 2 weeks to convert to high quality coke for use in the blast furnaces at Shenyang.

A most interesting survival of an archaic process.