Dilip Kumar

Evaluation of Coking Coal Resources and Reserves

This chapter focuses on the viability and usability of coking coal deposits and starts by defining resources and reserves. National and international classification systems are compared in order to obtain a common understanding of these terms and allow mapping of disparate conventions. Different methods used to measure the coking properties of coal, in the context of steel making, are described in this chapter. In addition, macrolevel governing factors associated with coking coal have also been dealt with. The sequential geologic formation of Gondwana coals and Tertiary coals are explained. The chapter describes the different coalfields of India and gives consideration to the factors involved in calculating minable reserves. In addition to this, growth rate analysis has been completed to derive life indices of India’s reserves. Finally, different geological exploration methods are explored, ranging from conventional practices to the latest international mining developments.

Solutions to Transportation Problems

This chapter takes a detailed look at an alternative and innovative solution to mining’s transportation issues. It considers in detail the pipeline transport system, its advantages, and potential applications for coking coal. Process design considerations, in general, and process design considerations for (−6xa0mm) coking coal, in particular, are considered. In addition to the logistics of transportation, it highlights the means by which pipeline transportation can be applied to different minerals. The objective is to ascertain whether the same methodologies can be considered for coking coal, which could lead to elimination of present day bottlenecks that occur with bulk solids hauling.

Societal Responsibility and Economic Viability

This chapter deals broadly with the issues of sustainable mining and its economic impact. The four-pillars approach to sustainable mining is discussed, and the issue of how to make coking coal resources sustainable is examined. Today, the formality of opening a mine does not end with getting a permit from the government. It needs further rigorous effort in order to obtain the consent of the local community – known as a social license to operate. The welfare of the local people has to be taken care into account alongside consideration of the environment. In the second part of the chapter, various financial analysis techniques are provided to examine the feasibility of a mining project. Several resource recovery methods are discussed along with methodologies to restrict reduction in losses and contamination of resources as well as consideration being given to extraction of inferior grade deposits. Lastly, guidelines for mine closure plans are given.

Chapter 7 – Conclusions

The book has identified many of the problems facing the coking coal sector and briefly discussed potential solutions. Resources can be represented as a stretchable continuum that can be expanded by such factors as finding more reserves, conserving reserves, finding substitutes, making use of recycling techniques, and applying quality control. The book has also looked at management of blast furnace operations in the steel industry and has called for all controlling factors to be harmonized by improving hot metal quality, increasing blast furnace productivity, and reducing the coke rate. Emerging trends in coal preparation and coke making along with methodologies for optimum planning and exploitation have been dealt with as well. Clean coal technologies have been studied by considering such factors as the practice of zero waste, the extraction and utilization of methane, further developments in technology, and social business tools that lead to zero harm. An integrated framework, dealing with the future of the steel and coal industry, has been provided and has given maximum focus to consumer and comprehensive elements of the value chain.

Latest Developments in the Iron and Steel Industry

Although India is the fourth largest producer of steel in the world, the per capita consumption of steel in India is low. Much is required to increase production. India is the largest producer of direct- reduced iron (DRI). There are two routes of steel making: the blast furnace (BF)/basic oxygen furnace (BOF), which uses iron ore and coke as the basic mix as well as recycled steel. The other route is the electric arc furnace, where the input blend is iron ore, melting scrap, or a combination of both. Major steel producers are integrated steel plants; they follow the BF/BOF process. Hot metal produced from a BF is used as a principal raw material for the production of steel. Thus, BF technology has become the bastion of iron making for further improvement both on quantity and quality. Various techniques to reduce the consumption of coking coal have been elaborated.

Rational Implementation of Mining Technology

Abstract In this chapter we examine how the mining industry is passing through the digital age and gradually adapting to autonomous systems. Present day mining technology is equipped with cloud-based enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems. Benchmarking of the coking coal industry is analyzed through TQM for a better performance. The concept of productivity management is explained and suggestions are made regarding how to improve the low productivity levels of mining operations. The chapter looks at strategic planning (i.e., mining strategies from an Indian perspective) and discusses global mine management. The history of the Indian coal-mining industry is traced back to both the preindependence and postindependence period in order to show how the industry has progressed to the present day. Different aspects of mining are considered: selective mining, special mining methods, highwall mining, coal preparation through deshaling, and quality control. Since the choicest prime coals are only available in the Jharia coalfield, identification of the right type of approach to planning is considered and a proposal is made for its revitalization.