At ”International conference on coking coals & coke making: Challenges & Opportunities” held in Ranchi,
India between December 12 and December 14, industry experts warned that
India may face
coking coal crisis in the coming years due to the ongoing and planned steel projects in the country.
Experts talking at the conference indicated that
India should eliminate usage of low grade coal in the blast furnaces without losing the productivity and quality of steel.
Mr. Sanak Mishra, Managing Director of Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP), a unit of Steel Authority of
India Ltd (
SAIL), said the country should continue the coke oven system in the steel plants since electronic furnaces are costly and they would increase the cost of steel
production.
Most of the speakers at the conference highlighted subjects such as development of new sources for coal supplies, adoption of new technologies to eliminate usage of low grade coal, encouragement of overseas
coking coal trade, and enhancement of battery life efficiency.
The conference was held with the participation of delegates from Indian steel mills, such as
SAIL units,
Tata Steel, JSW Steel, and delegates from various countries, including
Ukraine,
Australia,
China,
Germany, and
Indonesia.