Russia overtakes Australia as top supplier of pulverised coal injection to India since September

Source: The post is based on the article “Russia overtakes Australia as top supplier of pulverised coal injection to India since September” published in Hindu Businessline on 3rd May 2023

What is the News?

Russia has emerged as the top supplier of pulverised coal injection (PCI) to India’s steel mills for at least five months of FY23 displacing Australia as the key supply nation.

What is Pulverised Coal Injection(PCI)?

Pulverised Coal Injection is an essential instrument for modern blast furnace iron making. 

It is a process that involves injecting large volumes of fine coal particles into the raceway of a blast furnace (BF). 

This provides not only a supplemental carbon source but also speeds up the production of liquid iron besides reducing the need for metallurgical coke for reactions in the blast furnace. 

What are the advantages of Pulverised Coal Injection?

– PCI uses non coking coal. This coal is cheaper than metallurgical coke. In most blast furnaces, PCI replaces 30 to 50% of the metallurgical coke charge. This results in lower fuel cost,

– The productivity of blast furnaces improves since coal injection is accompanied by oxygen injection,

– A wide grade of coals can be injected,

– Injection rates are higher than the injection rates of other fuels such as oil and natural gas,

– Coal grinding and injection systems are non-polluting systems. Hence, the overall pollution from coke production for iron making gets reduced by injecting pulverized coal in the blast furnace.

– Coal supplies are relatively stable when compared with petroleum fuel supplies.