It began with the construction (1945-1959) of two coke oven batteries with a capacity of 400,000 tonnes of metallurgical coke annually. Coke production was accompanied by chemical production. In addition to coke production, plants were constructed to receive coke-oven gas by-products and refine them through benzene rectification, tar distillation and the production of ammonium sulphate. The Energana plant was constructed and put into operation, producing electrical energy for its own needs, technological steam, industrial and drinking water.

A surplus of coke gas in 1960 was used for the first plant for the synthesis of ammoniates, i.e. azotizing. It had a capacity of 90,000 tonnes of calcium ammonium nitrate(CAN) annually. The production of coke began in 1964 when a new coke oven battery (III) went into operation, while a plant for the production of anhydride maleic acid (AMA) with a capacity of 10,000 tonnes annually was made operational in 1982.

The demand for coke, as well as the status of old battery ovens, necessitated the construction of a new coke plant. The first phase of this, a new coke oven battery (IV) with a 700,000 tonnes annual capacity was made operational in 1975, and the total production of coke was 1.2 million tonnes. The second phase of this, i.e. the construction of a second coke oven battery with a 700,000 tonne annual capacity began and by 1991 almost 95% of all construction works were completed..

The work of these plants required the organization of a maintenance and repair service for the upkeep of machines, the electrical system, measuring instruments and buildings, with its own production of equipment and spare parts. The company organization also included a development and investment sector that focused its work mainly on new products and projects development.

The state was the sole owner of KHK till 5 November 2001 when 33% of it was privatised and became "KHK DD Lukavac" with 67% of its property owned by the state and 33% of its property owned by individual shareholders.

"Koksna Industrija Lukavac" (KIL) was created from KHK, retaining around 95% of assets of "KHK DD Lukavac" in accordance with the Law on business enterprises. It was registered on 7 January 2003.

On 10 November 2003, KIL entered into the partnership contract with Global Infrastructure Holding Ltd London and that marked the beginning of a new era for KIL. KIL was registered as "Global Ispat Koksna Industrija d.o.o., Lukavac" (GIKIL) with a new management team.

Preparations for the completion and commissioning of the fifth coke oven battery began on 27 February 2004 and on 8 July 2004 the fifth coke oven battery was officially put into operation. Mr. Sulejman Tihić (Then President of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina) and the family of Mr. Pramod Mittal were in attendance at that historical moment.

On 8 July 2004 a memorandum of cooperation with the aim of revitalizing the fifth coke oven battery was signed.