The Canadian government is being urged to recognize coking coal as a critical mineral

Amid recently announced coal export agreements with India, the Coal Association of Canada has emphasized the strategic importance of coking coal and the need to officially recognize it as a critical mineral. This is stated in a corresponding statement.

India is rapidly expanding its steel production and seeks to secure reliable, long-term supplies of high-quality coking coal from trusted partners. Canadian reserves are already attracting significant interest from steel and mining companies in that country.

The association notes that Ottawa should take advantage of this opportunity by aligning federal policy with key trading partners that have already classified coking coal as critical to their economic and industrial security.

«If countries such as India are turning to Canada for this resource, it is because they recognize the value of Canadian coal, and our own government should do the same by treating metallurgical coal as the strategic asset that it is,» said Robin Campbell, president of the Coal Association of Canada.

The industry association believes that coking coal production in Canada, with some of the world’s most stringent environmental, labour and safety standards, is preferable to moving production to jurisdictions with weaker protections and less transparency. Designating it as a critical mineral will help attract investment, simplify the permitting process, and strengthen the country’s role as a stable and responsible supplier.

«With global demand for steel expected to remain high for decades, Canada has a choice: we can be a leader in the responsible supply of the metallurgical coal the world needs, or we can watch as these jobs and opportunities move elsewhere,» Campbell explained.

According to Steel Orbis, Elk Valley Resources, a Canadian subsidiary of Switzerland’s Glencore, has signed memoranda of understanding with several Indian steel companies. Under the agreements, new sales of 1.2 million tons of coking coal to India will be discussed. The value of the deals is estimated at approximately C$285 million ($208.6 million).

In January this year, India declared coking coal a critical and strategic mineral. This step is aimed at reducing dependence on imports of this product.