A process and plant for producing metallurgical coke is disclosed. The process comprises rapidly drying coal particles in an inert atmosphere, and maintaining the particles, once dry, in an inert atmosphere. The dried particles are then compressed into a briquette without addition of a binder. The briquette is heated to a temperature between 1000.degree. C. and 1400.degree. C. for a period of between 1 and 5 hours to produce metallurgical coke.