Frequently Asked Questions
What is steelmaking coal?
Steelmaking coal, also known as metallurgical coal, met coal, or coking coal is a specific type of coal used to make steel. However, before it can be used steelmaking coal is converted into coke, which is used to make most of the world's steel.
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Is steelmaking coal the same as thermal coal?
No. Thermal coal is primarily used to generate electricity. Steelmaking coal has different properties, serves a different market and is used principally in steel production. Meet Coal focuses on steelmaking coal.
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Can coal miners manage selinium?
Selenium management is fundamentally a mine design consideration. With properly engineered water treatment through mine design, operations, and closure, it can be done efficiently and effectively.
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Why is steelmaking coal important?
Steelmaking coal is a key feedstock for most of the world's steel production. Steel is the most used metal on earth and is used in buildings, bridges, vehicles, energy infrastructure, appliances, hospitals, and countless other products.
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How is steelmaking coal used to make steel?
Steelmaking coal is heated in specialized ovens without oxygen to produce coke. The coke is then used in a blast furnace to help convert iron ore into steel. The coke acts as a source of heat, a reducing agent and as structural support for the iron ore. Approximately 770 kilograms of coal are used to produce one tonne of steel.
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Can steel be made without steelmaking coal?
Yes, some steel is produced in electric arc furnaces, which primarily use recycled steel. However, 70% of global steel production relies on steelmaking coal. Recycled steel accounts for about 25% of global steel production while direct reduced iron (DRI) which is made with methane or coal is the remaining 5%.
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How much of the world’s steel depends on steelmaking coal?
70% of global steel production relies on metallurgical coal-based steelmaking, this amounts to 1.3 billion tonnes per year.
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Isn't hydrogen replacing steelmaking coal?
The world currently produces 0 mt of green hydrogen steel. There are some pilot plants currently in production that produce a few thousand tonnes, and one large gray hydrogen (hydrogen made from coal) facility in production. By 2027/28 there first commercial 2.5 mt tonnes is expected to be in production.
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Does Canada produce steelmaking coal?
Yes. Canada is a significant producer and exporter of steelmaking coal. Canada is the seventh-largest producer globally, with British Columbia being the largest provincial producer.
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Where is Canadian steelmaking coal exported?
Canadian steelmaking coal is sold into the international seaborne market and exported to steel-producing countries. Global steelmaking coal demand is concentrated in Asia, including Japan, Korea, China and India.
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