Coking Coal as a Critical & Strategic Mineral

News– The Government of India has officially classified coking coal as a Critical and Strategic Mineral under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (MMDR Act).

Rationale behind the decision

• The notification is based on the recommendations of the High-Level Committee on Implementation of Viksit Bharat Goals (HLC-VB) and policy inputs provided by NITI Aayog.
• India possesses about 37.37 billion tonnes of coking coal resources, with major deposits concentrated in Jharkhand, and smaller reserves in Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, and Chhattisgarh.
• However, despite significant domestic reserves, India’s dependence on imports has risen, from 51.20 million tonnes in 2020–21 to 57.58 million tonnes in 2024–25.
• At present, nearly 95% of the steel sector’s coking coal demand is met through imports, resulting in substantial foreign exchange expenditure.

About Coking Coal Coking coal is primarily used to manufacture coke, an essential input for the steel industry. In contrast, non-coking coal is mainly utilised in thermal power plants for steam and electricity generation. Coking coal is a hard, porous material consisting of around 90% carbon, with the remaining portion made up of ash (non-combustible matter), volatile substances, and impurities such as sulphur and phosphorus.