Illawarra Coke Company
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Metallurgical coke manufacturing |
| Predecessor | Kembla Coal & Coke |
| Founded | 1996 |
| Fate | Closed (2014) |
| Headquarters | Illawarra region , Australia |
Area served | Domestic and international base metals sector |
| Products | Metallurgical and foundry coke |
The Illawarra Coke Company (ICC) operated cokeworks located in Coalcliff and Corrimal, situated within the Illawarra region of New South Wales, Australia. Following the shutdown of local coal mines, ICC stood as Australia's sole independent manufacturer of metallurgical and foundry coke. The business took ownership of both facilities from Kembla Coal & Coke in 1996. ICC provided coke to both domestic and international producers in the base metals sector, including lead, zinc smelting, and steel industries.
History
In 1797, British explorer George Bass discovered coal seams near Coalcliff and Austinmer. Despite initial difficulties in establishing operations on the Illawarra escarpment, coal extraction and coke manufacturing commenced by the 1850s and later extended to surrounding collieries. The installation of ovens at the Corrimal cokeworks occurred in 1911, with production starting the following year. Ownership of these sites shifted multiple times from the 1960s until ICC acquired them in 1996.
Facilities
The company managed two cokeworks: Coalcliff and Corrimal. The Coalcliff plant is positioned next to the coastal town of Coalcliff, roughly south of Sydney's central business district and north of Wollongong, intersected by the South Coast railway line. Meanwhile, the Corrimal site lies south of Sydney CBD and north of Wollongong. Corrimal was the pioneer in coke production beginning in 1912, with Coalcliff commencing operations two years later in 1914.
Closure
After nearly a century of operation, the Coalcliff cokeworks closed its doors in 2013. The neighboring Corrimal facility followed with its shutdown in April 2014. At the time it ceased operations, ICC held the distinction of being the longest-running continuous coke producer worldwide.