A coal gasification pilot plant operation with hot fuel gas desulfurization (HGD) was performed taking two coals (Indonesian ABK and MSJ) that differ in their carbon and sulfur contents. A dry-feeding entrained-bed type gasifier was used for gasification with oxygen and capable of operating at 30 bar pressure and 1,550 ℃. The HGD unit consisted of a transport desulfurizer, a bubbling regenerator and a multi-cyclone. Attention was focused on attaining high carbon conversion and cold gas efficiency in the entrained bed reactor and the sulfur removal efficiency of the hot fuel gas desulfurization unit. The optimum conditions for achieving high performance of the operation are reported.