NITI Aayog Recommends Adding Coking Coal to India's Critical Minerals List
| Key Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Why in News | NITI Aayog recommends adding coking coal to India's critical minerals list due to 85% import dependence, ₹1.5 lakh crore import cost in FY 2023-24, and significant reserves (16.5 BT medium coking coal). |
| Coking Coal Reserves in India | 16.5 billion tonnes (medium coking coal) and 5.13 billion tonnes (prime coking coal). |
| Import Dependency | 85% of India's coking coal demand is met through imports. |
| Key Cost Driver | Coking coal constitutes 42% of steel production costs. |
| Public vs. Private Washeries | Public washeries operate at 32% capacity, with clean coal yields of 35-36%; private washeries perform at 75%. |
| Amendments Suggested | Amend Coal Bearing Areas (CBA) Act, 1957, to enable private participation via PPP while retaining lease rights. |
| EU Context | European Union includes coking coal as a critical raw material alongside 29 other minerals like lithium, cobalt. |
| Report Name | "Enhancing Domestic Coking Coal Availability to Reduce the Import of Coking Coal". |
| Capacity Utilization (PSUs) | PSU washeries' capacity utilization was below 32% in FY 2022-23. |
| FY 2023-24 Import Volume | Integrated Steel Plants imported 58 MT of coking coal. |