Coking coal
Global steel production is dependent on metallurgical coal – or coking coal. Coking coal is used to create coke which is a key ingredient in the production of steel.
During the steel making process, a blast furnace is fed with iron ore, coke and small quantities of fluxes (minerals, such as limestone, which are used to collect impurities). Air, which is heated to about 1200°C, is blown into the furnace through nozzles in the lower section. The air causes the coke to burn, producing carbon monoxide which reacts with the iron ore, as well as heat to melt the iron. Finally, the tap hole at the bottom of the furnace is opened and molten iron and slag (impurities) are drained off. The molten iron is then refined into a variety of steel products.
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