On February 21, Sichuan Province-based Pangang Xichang Steel & Vanadium Co., a subsidiary of Sichuan-based Chinese steel producer Panzhihua Iron and Steel Group (Pangang Group), has launched production at coke oven No. 4 of its coal chemical plant, as announced by Pangang on February 25. The coke oven in question is a top-loading coke oven, while the coking chamber has a height of seven meters. It has advantages including twin flues, waste gas recycling and multi-stage heating. The new coke oven will provide support for the production operations of the company's two existing blast furnaces and will contribute to reducing smelting costs.