JFE West Japan Works (Kurashiki) steel plant

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JFE West Japan Works (Kurashiki) steel plant (西日本製鉄所 倉敷地区), also known as JFE - Kawasaki Steel, Kawasaki Mizushima works (formerly), is a steel plant in Kurashiki, Okayama, Japan that operates electric arc furnace (EAF), basic oxygen furnace (BOF), and blast furnace (BF) technology.

Location

The map below shows the exact location of the plant in Kurashiki, Okayama, Japan:

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  • Location: 1 Mizushima Kawasaki-dori, Kurashiki-shi, Okayama Pref. 712-8511 Japan
  • Coordinates (WGS 84): 34.501198, 133.722123 (exact)

Background

The JFE West Japan Works (Kurashiki) steel plant began operating in 2003 under the JFE group.[1]

In 2017, the JFE Group began construction for a casting plant with an investment of JPY 53 million that will add to the plant's plate capacity.[2]

In 2021, they also renovated the 4th blast furnace.[3]

In 2022, in the company's Environmental Vision 2050, JFE steel announced its plan to shut down one blast furnace with the possibility of introducing large high efficiency EAF at the Kurashiki plant.[4] In November 2023, the company announced the details of the new EAF with an annual capacity of 2 mtpa to be commissioned by 2028.[5][6] JFE Steel is conducting a study of shutting down one blast furnace at the timing of a relining scheduled for the 2027–2030 timeframe, while introducing the high efficiency, large-scale electric arc furnace at the plant.[7] JFE Steel came to an FID in April 2025 on its 2 mtpa EAF facility here, aiming to start commercial operations in April-June 2028.[6]

Starting in FY2030 and beyond, blast furnaces 5, 4, and 3 of Fukuyama Works and blast furnace 3 of Kurashiki Works are expected to undergo refurbishment.[8]

Taking advantage of the location of the Mizushima Complex, West Japan Works (Kurashiki District) and ENEOS Corporation, which is situated adjacent, have started a joint study on hydrogen utilization, aiming to build a hydrogen supply chain by 2030 (up to approx. 100,000 t-H2/year).[9]

Due to a decline in domestic and international steel demand, BF #3 began a temporary suspension in May 2025.[10]

Ownership Tree

This ownership tree is part of the Global Energy Ownership Tracker, a project of Global Energy Monitor.

Low-emissions/green steelmaking

This steel plant is associated with a green steel project tracked in the Green Steel Tracker. Details about the project are included below.

Table 1: Green Steel Project Details

All references for the above data are available in the Green Steel Tracker.
Project 1
Project name JFE Steel Kurashiki EAF
Company JFE Steel Corporation
Company has climate goals? Yes
Location Kurashiki, Japan
Project website Site
Project scale Full scale
Project status Construction
Technology to be used Biomass for BF-BOF
Technology details EAF using company’s proprietary technologies and innovative processes including high-quality and highly efficient smelting technology and low-carbon direct reduced iron
Iron production capacity (million tonnes per year) Not applicable
Steel production capacity (million tonnes per year) 2
CO2 capture (million tonnes CO2 per year) Not applicable
Hydrogen generation capacity (MW) Not applicable
Investment size (m USD) 2100
Partners Not stated
Date of announcement 12/24/2024

Plant Details

Table 2: General Plant Details

Construction date Start date Workforce size Power source Iron ore source Coal source
1961[11] 1967[11] 5730[12] unknown Australia, Brazil and India[13] unknown

Table 3: Ownership and Parent Company Information

Parent company Parent company PermID Parent GEM entity ID Owner Owner company PermID Owner GEM entity ID
JFE Holdings Inc [100.0%] 4295880726 [100.0%] E100000000643 [100.0%] JFE Steel Corp [100%][14] 4295877328 E100000003335 [100%]

Table 4: Process and Products

Steel product category Steel products Steel sector end users ISO 14001 ISO 50001 Responsible steel Main production equipment
semi-finished, finished rolled[15] wire rod, rail, sheet, plate, coated, bar, pipe, piling, profile[15] automotive, building and infrastructure, energy, steel packaging, tools and machinery, transport[15] yes[16] unknown[17] unknown BF; EAF; BOF

Table 5: Plant-level Crude Steel Production Capacities (thousand tonnes per annum)

1Please see our Frequently Asked Questions page for an explanation of the different capacity operating statuses.
Capacity operating status1 Basic oxygen furnace steelmaking capacity Electric arc furnace steelmaking capacity Nominal crude steel capacity (total)
announced – 2000[18][19] 2000[18][19]
operating 2000[20][21][13] – 2000[20][21][13]
operating pre-retirement 7999[20][21][13] – 7999[20][21][13]

Table 6: Plant-level Crude Iron Production Capacities (thousand tonnes per annum)

1Please see our Frequently Asked Questions page for an explanation of the different capacity operating statuses.
Capacity operating status1 Blast furnace capacity Nominal iron capacity (total)
operating 7600[22][23][24] 7600[22][23][24]
operating pre-retirement 3684[25] 3684[25]

Table 7: Upstream Products Production Capacities (thousand tonnes per annum)

Sinter Coke
>0[26] >0[15]

Table 8: Actual Plant-level Crude Steel Production by Year (thousand tonnes per annum)

Year BOF production Total (all routes)
2019 7119[27] 7119[27]
2020 5842[28] 5842[28]
2021 6856[29] 6856[29]
2022 6856[30] 6856[30]
2023 6970[31] 6970[31]
2024 6856[32] 6856[32]
2025 unknown –

Table 9: Actual Plant-level Crude Iron Production by Year (thousand tonnes per annum)

Year BF production Other/unknown iron production
2019 unknown unknown
2020 unknown unknown
2021 unknown unknown
2022 unknown unknown
2023 unknown unknown
2024 unknown –
2025 unknown –

Unit Details

Table 10: Blast Furnace Details

Unit name Status Start date Retired date Current size Current capacity (ttpa) Decarbonization technology Most recent relining
BF 2 operating pre-retirement[33] – 2027[34][35] 4100.0 m3[33] 3684[25] unknown 2003-11[36]
BF 3 operating[33] – – 5055.0 m3[33] 3800[24][22] unknown 2010-02[37]
BF 4 operating[33] 1973[11] – 5100.0 m3[33] 3800[23][24] unknown 2021-12-13[38]

Table 11: Electric Arc Furnace Details

Unit name Status Announced date Start date Furnace manufacturer and model Current capacity (ttpa) Current size (tonnes)
unknown EAF (1) announced[19] 2023-11-10[18] 2028[39][40] Danieli Digimelter Zerobucket EAF[41][42][41] 2000[19][18] 300.0[43][19]

Table 12: Electric Arc Furnace Feedstock Details

Unit name Scrap-based % scrap % DRI % HBI % sponge iron (unknown if DRI or HBI) % basic/merchant pig iron % granulated pig iron % pig iron (unknown if basic/merchant or granulated) % other iron
unknown EAF (1) None[19][44] unknown[18] >0[18] >0[18] unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown

Table 13: Basic Oxygen Furnace Details

Unit name Status Retired date Furnace manufacturer and model Current capacity (ttpa) Current size
unknown BOF (1) operating[11][22] – – 1000[13][20][21] 200.0 tonnes[27][26][22][11][45][37]
unknown BOF (2) operating[11][22] – – 1000[13][20][21] 200.0 tonnes[27][26][22][11][45][37]
unknown BOF (3) operating pre-retirement[46] 2030[47] – 1000[13][20][21] 200.0 tonnes[27][26][22][11][45][37]
unknown BOF (4) operating pre-retirement[47] 2030[47] K-BOP converter[13] 2333[20][21] 320.0 tonnes[27][26][22][11][45][37]
unknown BOF (5) operating pre-retirement[47] 2030[47] K-BOP converter[13] 2333[20][21] 310.0 tonnes[27][26][13][22][11][45][37]
unknown BOF (6) operating pre-retirement[47] 2030[47] K-BOP Converter[13] 2333[20][21] 310.0 tonnes[27][26][13][22][11][45][37]

Articles and Resources

Additional data

To access additional data, including an interactive map of steel plants, a downloadable dataset, and summary data, please visit the Global Iron and Steel Tracker on the Global Energy Monitor website.

References

  1. ↑ "West Japan Works". JFE Steel Corporation. Retrieved 2022-03-06.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  2. ↑ "JFE Steel starts operating continuous casting plant No. 7 in Kurashiki". Steel Orbis. 2021-06-17. Retrieved 2022-03-06.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  3. ↑ Institute, Strategic Research. "JFE Steel Fires Renovated BF 4 at West Japan Works Kurashiki Ward". SteelGuru Business News. Retrieved 2022-03-06.
  4. ↑ "Environmental Vision 2050" (PDF). JFE Steel. 01 September 2022. Retrieved 20 February 2024. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  5. ↑ "JFE Steel to build new large EAF in 2027 to cut CO2 emissions | SEAISI". www.seaisi.org. Retrieved 2024-02-20.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Japan's Nippon Steel finalises $6bn EAF investment | Latest Market News". www.argusmedia.com. Retrieved 2025-11-06.
  7. ↑ The Technical Society, The Iron and Steel Institute of Japan (2024). "Production and Technology of Iron and Steel in Japan during 2023". ISIJ International. 64 (8): i–xix. doi:10.2355/isijinternational.64.8app_i.
  8. ↑ "JFE Steel Carbon Neutrality Strategy Briefing 2023" (PDF). JFE Steel. 2023-11-08. Retrieved 2024-12-17.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  9. ↑ "Environmental Vision 2050" (PDF). JFE Steel. 2023-11-08. Retrieved 2024-12-17.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  10. ↑ "Japanese steel manufacturer JFE Steel announced that it will | SMM". news.metal.com. Retrieved 2026-01-26.
  11. ↑ 11.00 11.01 11.02 11.03 11.04 11.05 11.06 11.07 11.08 11.09 11.10 (PDF) https://web.archive.org/web/20201023114939/https://www.jfe-steel.co.jp/en/research/report/001/pdf/001-05.pdf. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2020-10-23. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  12. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20211230085735/https://www.jfe-steel.co.jp/en/company/steel.html. Archived from the original on 2021-12-30. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  13. ↑ 13.00 13.01 13.02 13.03 13.04 13.05 13.06 13.07 13.08 13.09 13.10 13.11 13.12 "OSTC Study tour-Japan" (PDF). AIST. 2014-10. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2025-04-07. Retrieved 2024-12-18. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  14. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20211229111455/https://www.jfe-steel.co.jp/en/company/facilities.html. Archived from the original on 2021-12-29. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 https://web.archive.org/web/20211230090434/https://www.jfe-steel.co.jp/en/works/west/process.html. Archived from the original on 2021-12-30. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  16. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20211230085848/https://www.jfe-steel.co.jp/en/works/west/environment.html. Archived from the original on 2021-12-30. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  17. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20220307123855/https://search.yahoo.co.jp/search?p=iso50001&fr=ysiw&ei=utf-8&vs=www.jfe-steel.co.jp/en/. Archived from the original on 2022-03-07. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 18.3 18.4 18.5 18.6 https://web.archive.org/web/20240122224403/https://gmk.center/en/news/japans-jfe-steel-plans-to-build-a-large-scale-electric-arc-furnace-in-2027/. Archived from the original on 2024-01-22. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 19.3 19.4 19.5 https://web.archive.org/web/20240111013207/https://www.seaisi.org/details/23849?type=news-rooms. Archived from the original on 2024-01-11. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  20. ↑ 20.00 20.01 20.02 20.03 20.04 20.05 20.06 20.07 20.08 20.09 (PDF) https://web.archive.org/web/20240307010848/https://pubs.usgs.gov/myb/vol3/2019/myb3-2019-japan.pdf. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2024-03-07. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  21. ↑ 21.00 21.01 21.02 21.03 21.04 21.05 21.06 21.07 21.08 21.09 (PDF) https://www.aist.org/AIST/aist/AIST/Technology_Committees/Contin_Casting/Agenda_RSVP/18_apr_Caster-Japan_Study_tour_recap.pdf. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  22. ↑ 22.00 22.01 22.02 22.03 22.04 22.05 22.06 22.07 22.08 22.09 22.10 https://web.archive.org/web/20220307141135/https://www.jfe-steel.co.jp/en/release/2020/201109_02.html. Archived from the original on 2022-03-07. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 23.2 https://www.kallanish.com/en/news/steel/market-reports/article-details/jfe-upgrades-no4-bf-at-kurashiki-plant-1221/. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 24.2 24.3 https://web.archive.org/web/20221127042239/https://mepsinternational.com/gb/en/news/new-capacity-roundup-december-2021. Archived from the original on 2022-11-27. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 25.2 https://www.spglobal.com/commodityinsights/en/market-insights/latest-news/metals/103118-japans-jfe-steel-banks-no2-kurashiki-blast-furnace-expects-to-lose-400000-mt-steel-output. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 26.2 26.3 26.4 26.5 26.6 https://web.archive.org/web/20211230090304/https://www.jfe-steel.co.jp/en/works/west/k_layout.html. Archived from the original on 2021-12-30. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 27.2 27.3 27.4 27.5 27.6 27.7 (PDF) https://web.archive.org/web/20220307123856/https://www.jfe-holdings.co.jp/en/investor/library/group-report/2020/pdf/all.pdf. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2022-03-07. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 (PDF) https://www.jfe-holdings.co.jp/en/investor/library/group-report/2021/pdf/all_A4.pdf. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 (PDF) https://web.archive.org/web/20240125052809/https://www.jfe-holdings.co.jp/en/investor/library/group-report/2022/pdf/all.pdf. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2024-01-25. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 (PDF) https://web.archive.org/web/20240122233041/https://www.jfe-holdings.co.jp/en/investor/library/group-report/2023/pdf/all_A4.pdf. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2024-01-22. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 "Group report" (PDF). JFE Holdings. 2024-07. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2025-04-07. Retrieved 2024-12-18. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  32. ↑ 32.0 32.1 "JFE GROUP REPORT". www.jfe-holdings.co.jp. Archived from the original on 2026-01-17. Retrieved 2025-12-12. {{cite web}}: Text "JFE Holdings, Inc." ignored (help)
  33. ↑ 33.0 33.1 33.2 33.3 33.4 33.5 https://web.archive.org/web/20220701102337/https://www.jfe-steel.co.jp/en/release/2021/211214.html. Archived from the original on 2022-07-01. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  34. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20220902111150/https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/steelmaker-jfe-set-spend-72-bln-cut-co2-emissions-2022-09-01/. Archived from the original on 2022-09-02. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  35. ↑ https://www.industrialinfo.com/news/abstract/japans-jfe-steel-to-convert-kurashiki-blast-furnace-to-eaf--314422. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  36. ↑ (PDF) https://web.archive.org/web/20240110005514/https://www.jfe-steel.co.jp/en/research/report/008/pdf/008-12.pdf. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2024-01-10. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  37. ↑ 37.0 37.1 37.2 37.3 37.4 37.5 37.6 https://web.archive.org/web/20220207220847/https://www.jfe-steel.co.jp/en/release/2019/190930.html. Archived from the original on 2022-02-07. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  38. ↑ https://www.jfe-steel.co.jp/en/release/2021/211214.html, https://www.jfe-steel.co.jp/en/release/2019/190930.html, https://www.steelorbis.com/steel-news/latest-news/jfe-steel-restarts-blast-furnace-no-4-at-kurashiki-plant-1226375.htm https://www.jfe-steel.co.jp/en/research/report/008/pdf/008-12.pdf, https://www.jfe-steel.co.jp/en/release/2021/211214.html, https://www.jfe-steel.co.jp/en/release/2019/190930.html, https://www.steelorbis.com/steel-news/latest-news/jfe-steel-restarts-blast-furnace-no-4-at-kurashiki-plant-1226375.htm. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help); Missing or empty |title= (help)
  39. ↑ https://www.argusmedia.com/en/news-and-insights/latest-market-news/2693921-japan-s-nippon-steel-finalises-6bn-eaf-investment. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  40. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20260227021130/https://www.greensteelhub.com/steel/news/350. Archived from the original on 2026-02-27. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  41. ↑ 41.0 41.1 https://www.seaisi.org/details/26841?type=news-rooms. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  42. ↑ https://www.steelorbis.com/steel-news/latest-news/jfe-steel-to-build-large-scale-eaf-at-kurashiki-with-government-funding-1387219.htm. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  43. ↑ "JFE Steel Carbon Neutrality Strategy Briefing 2023" (PDF). JFE Steel. 2023-11-08. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2025-09-05. Retrieved 2024-12-17.
  44. ↑ https://www.danieli.com/en/news-media/news/jfe-bs-corp-selects-danieli-new-120-ton-digimelter-japan_37_1013.htm. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  45. ↑ 45.0 45.1 45.2 45.3 45.4 45.5 (PDF) https://web.archive.org/web/20220127010524/https://www.jfe-steel.co.jp/en/products/wirerods/contents/pdf/kurashiki.pdf. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2022-01-27. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  46. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20211229111333/https://www.jfe-steel.co.jp/en/company/about.html. Archived from the original on 2021-12-29. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  47. ↑ 47.0 47.1 47.2 47.3 47.4 47.5 47.6 (PDF) https://web.archive.org/web/20230118082314/http://www.jfe-steel.co.jp/en/company/pdf/carbon-neutral-strategy_220901_1.pdf. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2023-01-18. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)

Resources

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