Source: TH
Context: India’s coking coal imports surged to a six-year peak in the first half of the current fiscal (April-September 2023), driven by increased imports from Russia amidst rising domestic steel production.
Recent status of Coking Coal imports:
- Import volume: 29.6 million tonnes (mt) of coking coal imported in H1 FY24, a six-year high.
- Russian imports: Shipments from Russia rose significantly, with a 200% increase, reaching 4 MT in H1 FY24.
- Alternative sourcing: India’s mills capitalized on Russia’s discounted coking coal, while imports from traditional sources like Australia saw a decline.
NOTE: No need to remember all these data for prelims but you can use them in your mains answers which can fetch additional marks.
About Coking Coal:
- Content and formation:
- Composition: Bituminous coal with high carbon content, low sulphur, phosphorus, and alkalis, making it suitable for steelmaking.
- Formation: Formed from the carbonization of coal at high temperatures to produce metallurgical coke.
- Chemical and physical indicators:
- High carbon Content: Essential for the strength and efficiency of coke in blast furnaces.
- Low impurities: Lower sulphur and phosphorus content than steam coal to minimize contamination in steel production.
- Importance:
- Steel production: Critical for producing pig iron in blast furnaces, where it acts as a reducing agent and supports the furnace charge.
- Industrial by-products: Produces by-products like tar, benzole, ammonia sulphate, and coke oven gas, which support chemical manufacturing and power generation.
- India’s resources and dependency: Despite being a major steel producer, India is a net importer of coking coal due to limited domestic reserves.
Insta Links:
