Kim Chaek Iron and Steel Complex steel plant (金策製鐵聯合企業所, 김책제철소, 김책제철연합기업소), also known as Jince Iron and Steel Co. Ltd., Cheongjin Steel Mill (formerly), Kim Chaek Iron and Steel Works, Kim Chaek Iron Works and Kim Chaek Steel Union Corporation, The Big Metallurgical Base of the North, Kimch'o'l, is a steel plant in Chongjin, Songpyeong, North Hamgyeong, North Korea that operates blast furnace (BF), basic oxygen furnace (BOF), electric arc furnace (EAF), and open hearth furnace (OHF) technology.
Kim Chaek Iron and Steel Complex is North Korea's oldest and largest steel mill, consisting of two steelmaking complexes (North Complex and South Complex).[1] Kim Chaek Iron and Steel Complex was constructed by Nippon Steel while Korea was under Japanese rule from 1910 to 1945. The plant was rebuilt with support from former USSR and China.[2] The Soviet Union provided technology and equipment for steel production in 1975. In 1996, equipment for producing pig iron without coke and low-carbon steel was installed.[3] It was nationalised after the establishment of DPRK.[4] According to a 1999 report, the plant had a steel production capacity of 6000 ttpa.[5] As per a 2014 OECD report, the plant had a capacity of 2400 ttpa.[6]
Operation issues
Coke supplies for Kim Chaek Iron and Steel Complex have been unstable since Russia stopped supplying the plant after Kim Il Sung's death in 1994.[3] Kim Chaek Iron and Steel Complex has shut down periodically due to lack of coal and electricity, including known instances in 1993, 1994, 1995, 2011, and 2014 (possibly more often than that). The Kim Chaek plant has rarely operated at full capacity since the 1990s, with some reports indicating operation at half or less capacity. [1][3][7]
Steel for weapons development
In March 2020, Daily NK reported that North Korea is aiming to increase its production of steel for weapons development, with the goal of selling these weapons abroad for foreign currency.[8]
Juche steel
The Kim Chaek steel and Sŏngjin steel complexes produce "juche steel" (steel produced from domestic, rather than imported coal and energy).[7]Hwanghae Iron and Steel Complex steel plant was also tasked with producing "juche steel" in October 2018.[9]
In December 2023, the plant added a new energy-saving oxygen heat blast furnace at the plant.[10][11]
In July 2024, it was reported that officials and workers at the Blast Furnace workshop no. 2 and steel workshop no.2 and the hot-rolling shop at the steel plant made innovations in the spirit of registering high results in the production of Juche iron and rolled steel by Juche iron in the first half of the year.
To access additional data, including an interactive map of steel power plants, a downloadable dataset, and summary data, please visit the Global Iron and Steel Tracker on the Global Energy Monitor website.
