“India may face coking coal crisis”

“India may face coking coal crisis”

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.