Sustainability and the future of coal
Metallurgical coal to play a crucial role in electrification and decarbonisation
Shane Hansen, CEO, Kestrel Coal Resources
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etallurgical coal is a critical raw material in steelmaking via the blast furnace route, the dominant steelmaking process which accounts for approximately 3/4 of the world’s steel production requirements annually. Steel is the world's most important engineering and construction material and is used in every aspect of daily lives.
The role of metallurgical coal and steel in building infrastructure, particularly in supporting the economic growth in the developing world, is well documented. A growing population in the developing world with expanding spending power is needing more transportation, is consuming more energy and is consuming more data, all of which require steel to provide the enabling infrastructure to support these functions. The role of metallurgical coal and steel in supporting economic growth through the construction of infrastructure is also highlighted by the infrastructure-led recovery from COVID-19, with many of the world’s
governments announcing infrastructureintensive stimulus packages. The role of metallurgical coal and steel in the energy transition is often less discussed, with base, precious metals and rare earth elements taking centre stage. The world is facing an enormous challenge to decarbonise, reduce emissions, and minimise the impact of climate change. To satisfy the Paris Agreement’s goal of limiting global warming to below 2°C in global temperatures and preferably limiting increases to 1.5°C, rapid, far-reaching, and unprecedented changes are required to all aspects of society. BBMC Yearbook 2021
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