Unlike the coal used for producing electricity, coking coal is used exclusively for steel-making. The coal is subjected to temperatures around 1000-1100°C in the absence of oxygen to remove impurities. This process results in a hard, porous material that is almost pure carbon called coke.
This type of coal is not directly used in our daily lives, but the steel it makes possible is all around us. The global production of crude steel in 2017 was 1.6 billion tonnes. Large quantities of steel are required for the bridges, railways, airports, skyscrapers and that make up our infrastructure. Even pylons that hold up power lines are made of steel. Stainless steel can be found in kitchens all across Europe in pots and pans, appliances, serving dishes – even steel wool. It’s also present in many kinds of surgical equipment.
Coking coal even contributes to reduced dependence on thermal coal-based energy by helping to produce the steel needed for alternative energy sources such as in wind turbines.