The production of coke in the Ostrava area dates back to the 1840s. Approximately 20 coking plants were established in the Ostrava-Karviná region thanks to the gradual development of the mining of cokeable coal that combined with the influence of ownership, political and historical factors. Many of these plants, however, ceased to exist after a brief period of operation.
1843
A coking plant named "Jan" (later renamed "President Beneš" and then "Czechoslovak Army" was founded. It was later to become a part of OKK
1846
Coking plant "Trojice" [Trinity] was founded. It was later to become a part of OKK
1858
Coking plant "Karolina" was founded. It was later to become a part of OKK
1892
Today's coking plant "Jan Šverma" was founded in 1892 under the name "Ignát". It was part of an operating mine of the same name.
1899
Coking plant "Lazy" was founded. It was later to become a part of OKK
1908
Today's coking plant "Svoboda" was founded in 1908 under the name "František"
1952
The company OKK was founded when all operating coking plants were merged under one head office, having previously existed as separate state enterprises, except for the metallurgical coking plants (in the Ostrava quarter Vítkovice, in the cities of Třinec and Kladno, and the coking plant Nová Huť [New Smelting Works] founded in the same year). OKK included the coking plants in Ostrava: Svoboda, Jan Šverma, Karolina, Trojice, Czechoslovak army, and Lazy.
Total OKK coke production in the company's inaugural year was 3,515.1 tonnes, while the workforce numbered 3,816.
1967
Coking plant Lazy was decommissioned.
1976
The foundation stone of a new coking plant in Stonava was laid.
1983
Coking plant Trojice was decommissioned
1984
Coking plant Karolina was decommissioned.
1986
Following a 10-year suspension of works, the construction of the Stonava plant resumed. The new coking plant was to start operation with two high-capacity blocks of Giprocoke-type furnaces. A third block was to be erected after the commissioning of the plant, increasing the production capacity to 3,600,000 tonnes of coke per year. The new plant was inteded to employ dry quenching with steam production, gas desulphurisation and dust extraction from the coke.
1990
The state enterprise OKD was dissolved without liquidation as of 31 December 1990.
1991
Joint-stock company Ostravsko-karvinské doly (OKD), wholly owned by the state, was founded as of 1 January 1991 as the legal successor of the former OKD. OKD, a. s., then commenced a restructuring process: mining and surface operations were merged into larger organiastional units, with the associated creation of internal organisational units and OKD subsidiaries.
Following the termination of construction activities, the development of the Stonava coking plant was ended by a government resolution.
1994
The joint-stock company OKD, OKK was established on 1 January 1994 by the allocation of OKD, a. s. assets. It became a wholly owned subsidiary of OKD, a. s. The annual turnover of the company was around CZK 5.5 billion.
The new enterprise was created by merging two mining coking plants located within the city of Ostrava and one more plant located in the Karviná region.
1996
Coke production at OKK reached 1,766,500 tonnes of coke in 1996. The company now employed a workforce of 2,117.
1997
After 154 years of uninterrupted operation, coke production at the Czechoslovak Army coking plant was terminated.
In the same year, both Ostrava plants were hit by a flood that temporarily knocked them out of operation. Coking plant Svoboda returned to full operation after 11 days and coking plant Jan Šverma, which was hit harder, returned to normal operation after 38 days. At Jan Šverma, the deluge flooded the regenerators of the coke oven batteries. This meant it was necessary to undertake a controlled drying out of the smoke flues, chimney stack and regenerators after the flood waters receded. A subsequent heating of the batteries was performed to bring them back to an operational temperature.
1998
An extensive redevelopment aimed at improving environmental parameters of operations at the coking plants Jan Šverma and svoboda took place. The total investment was nearly CZK 1.8 billion. The operations of both plants were improved to the european standard.
2001
A modern facility for the drying and grinding of coke to coke dust was commissioned in 2001. Coke dust is used as an enrichment additive introduced to the coal batch in coke production.
2008-2010
A progressive three-stage repair of masonry at coke-oven battery No. 8 took place from 2008 to 2010. Battery No. 10 was commissioned in autumn 2010 following an overhaul. Coking plant Jan Šverma was closed down at the end of 2010, after 118 years of operation.
Present
The company currently operates a single plant – Svoboda – in Ostrava. The plant comprises four batteries with a total of 210 chambers.
Foundry coke produced by OKK Koksovny, a. s., has long enjoyed a reputation as a top European quality product. OKK has become the largest European foundry coke producer.
History of coke production in the world
History of Jan Šverma Coking Plant
History of Svoboda Coking Plant