Coking coal notified as ‘critical and strategic mineral’
NEW DELHI: With demand for imported coking coal—an essential input for the steel industry—continuing to rise despite large domestic reserves, the govt on Thursday notified coking coal as a “critical and strategic mineral” to accelerate exploration and mining activities, including those involving deep-seated deposits.
The decision was made on the recommendations of the High-Level Committee on Implementation of Viksit Bharat Goals and policy inputs from NITI Aayog, which recognised the strategic role of coking coal in ensuring mineral security and meeting the needs of domestic steel sector.Officials said India has an estimated 37.4 billion tonnes of coking coal resources, largely located in Jharkhand, with Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal and Chhattisgarh also having deposits.
