Coking Coal as a Critical & Strategic Mineral

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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).

Coking Coal
Source- moneycontrol

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.
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