Coking Coal

Coking Coal Latest News

Recently, the Government of India has notified Coking Coal as a Critical and Strategic Mineral under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (MMDR Act). 

About Coking Coal

• It is a naturally occurring sedimentary rock found within the earth’s crust.
• It is also known as Metallurgical coal.
• Characteristics: It is a type of coal that softens and swells when heated, forming lightweight, porous coke particles, and is characterized by a free swelling index of 1 or greater.
• It typically contains more carbon, less ash, and less moisture than thermal coal, which is used for electricity generation.
• Coke is the main product of the high-temperature carbonisation of coking coal. 
• Coking coal is divided into 3 sub-categories namely, 
  • Primary Coking Coal (Low ash , low Volatile, High Coking property) 
  • Medium Coking Coal (low ash, medium volatile, low caking index)
  • Blendable/ Semi/Weak Coking Coal (low ash, high volatile, very low caking index).
• Major Producers: The largest producers of coking coal were China, Australia, Russia, USA and Canada.
  • India has an estimated 37.37 billion tonnes of coking coal resources, largely located in Jharkhand, with additional reserves in Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal and Chhattisgarh.

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Uses of Coking Coal

• It is essential for metallurgical processes, as it exhibits caking properties that allow it to fuse into a solid mass during heating.
• It is an essential ingredient in the production of steel, making it one of the most widely used building materials on earth.

Source: ET