How Coking Coal Production Can be Raised in India?

Coking Coal production can be increased in India—this was the theme of a presentation delivered by a participating team from Tata Steel Limited at the recently concluded conference, Indian Coal Mining-Sustainable Growth and Way Forward, conducted by the Federation of Indian Mining Industries, in Kolkata.

In the presentation, it was highlighted that imports of the coal have been increasing in India year after year due to the increasing steel production in the country. This also subtly mandates increasing the domestic Coking Coal production in the country.

In India, there is around 34.4 BnT of total Coking Coal reserve; out of which 18.48 BnT is measured,13.81 BnT is indicated and 2.1 BnT is inferred. The following is the break-up:

Source: The Actual Presentation

Highlighting the state-wise availability, it was said during the presentation that:

>89% of the Coking Coal reserves are concentrated within the Jharkhand state
>33.86% of the Coking Coal resources is in the Jharia coalfield
>100% of the Prime Coking Coal resources is deposited in the Jharia coalfield
>Medium and Semi Coking Coal occur in the Jharia, East as well as West Bokaro, North and South Karanpura, Pench-Kanhan, Ramgarh, Raniganj and Sohagpur coalfields

Elaborating the depth-wise occurrences of Coking Coal, it was highlighted that:

> 76% of the Prime Coking Coal is within 600 meter depth
>80% of the Medium Coking Coal and 70% of the Semi Soft Coking Coal are within the depth of 600 meter
>The remaining resources are beyond 600 meter depth

As a matter of fact, very few underground mines have been operated upto 600 meter depth.

Eventually, the presentation team suggested the following to ramp up Coking Coal production in India.

>Shallow reserves of Coking Coal have to be identified as deep mining is not possible, and existing mines have limitation in enhancing the production.
>Since the Jharia coal field is containing abundant Coking Coal, the data in respect to the field could be reviewed to locate shallow reserves.
>As the Jharia coalfield is very old, and systematic mining was not carried out in the past, advanced scientific studies could be done to locate potential areas with high Coking Coal availability.
>Beneficiation can transform high ash Coking Coal, which is classified as Non Coking Coal, into useful Metallurgical Coal.
>Coking Coal availability could also be increased by setting up Washeries. The Coal Ministry already is implementing a scheme to set-up Coal Washeries to increase domestic availability of the coal.