Steelmaking Coal
Steel is a vital material of modern society
Coal has been an important resource for heating, power generation and other industrial uses for centuries, but not all coal is created equal. Sometimes referred to as metallurgical coal or hard coking coal, steelmaking coal is critical to modern steelmaking, and there is simply no commercially viable alternative for making new steel.
Steelmaking coal is coked to produce an almost pure form of carbon which is an essential ingredient for steelmaking in blast furnaces.
Steel made in blast furnaces accounts for ~73% of global production, with the other ~27% coming from recycled steel.
BLAST FURNACE STEELMAKING PROCESS
Steelmaking coal is heated to approximately 1,100º C in oxygen-free coke ovens to prevent combustion and to remove impurities.
Steelmaking coal is heated to approximately 1,100º C in oxygen-free coke ovens to prevent combustion and to remove impurities.
At this point the coal has become metallurgical coke – a very durable, almost pure form of carbon.
Coke is then mixed with iron ore and limestone in a blast furnace to convert the iron ore into pig iron.
Pig iron is further refined to produce steel.
If you want steel, you need steelmaking coal.
In 2019, Canada exported over 30M tonnes of steelmaking coal.
Every tonne of steel requires about 780 kg of steelmaking coal(1).
To build the average car requires 900 kg of steelmaking coal(1).
In 2019, Canada exported over 30M tonnes of steelmaking coal.
Every tonne of steel requires about 780 kg of steelmaking coal(1).
To build the average car requires
900 kg of steelmaking coal(1).
Steelmaking coal is a critical resource for our future
Steel remains a building block of modern society, and the global energy transition is relying on steel to deliver the change. Whether it’s solar, wind, geothermal or hydro-power, steel is at the center of the transition to a less carbon-intensive future, and 73% of the steel required for this is made with steelmaking coal.
If a product doesn’t contain steel, then making it, or getting it to you required steel.
AVERAGE LARGE WIND TURBINE
120-180 tonnes of steel which needs 90-140 tonnes of steelmaking coal(2)
SOLAR PANEL ARRAY
(1 Mw)
35-40 tonnes of steel which needs 27-30 tonnes of steelmaking coal(2)
ELECTRIC CAR
500-800 kilograms of steel which needs 390-620 kilograms of
steelmaking coal(3)
ELECTRIC BIKE
18-22 kilograms of steel which needs 14-17 kilograms of
steelmaking coal(4)
Steelmaking coal is relatively rare, and only found in significant quantities in a few places, including Australia, China, Russia, the USA, and Canada.
- REGIONS WITH ABUNDANT STEELMAKING COAL
Steelmaking coal is relatively rare, and only found in significant quantities in a few places, including Australia, China, Russia, the USA, and Canada.
- REGIONS WITH ABUNDANT STEELMAKING COAL
Alberta hosts abundant resources of steelmaking coal, and Canada is the world’s 3rd largest exporter of steelmaking coal(5).
(1) Source: World Steel Association
(2) Source: ArcelorMittal
(3) Source: a2mac1 automotive benchmarking
(4) Assumption: 80% Steel
Source: Easy E-biking
(5) Source: Natural Resources Canada