Utilization of Indian low volatile medium coking coal for preparation of metallurgical coke

Coke is essential to the iron-making process, as the efficient functioning of a blast furnace depends on the use of high-quality coke. However, India has limited reserves of prime coking coal, which is critical for producing such coke. The challenges associated with using high-ash Indian coal in coke production have led to increased reliance on imported coal, thereby escalating production costs and weakening the global competitiveness of the Indian steel industry. This dependency further lowers the energy efficiency of coke production due to the significant energy required for coal transportation. To address this limitation, the blending of Indian-origin low-volatile medium coking (LVMC) coal offers a promising approach to reduce dependence on high-grade coal while minimizing the impact on coke quality. In this study, three different Indian LVMC coals were blended with prime coking coal, and three distinct coke preparation methods were evaluated to optimize both blend proportions and processing techniques. The results indicate that up to 50% LVMC coal can be used in the blend while still achieving good coke properties, making this a viable strategy for sustainable coke production in the Indian steel industry.