Anthracite Coal
What Is It and Why This Is So Important?
Anthracite is officially classified as coal however it is not just another fuel, anthracite should not be confused with just ordinary bituminous coal.
Anthracite is the highest quality metallurgical coal available, clean burning, hard coal with the highest carbon content of any coal, very energy efficient and even burns smoke free.
This premium coal represents only 1% of world coal reserves.
The Cleanest Burning Solid Fossil Fuel
Anthracite is an almost pure form of carbon. It has a very high heat value, and very low levels of sulphur and other impurities. This makes it not only the most sought after home heating fuel but also a much sought after, high quality component for a number of industries.
The anthracite coal extracted from the AIM coal concessions in Peru have been tested by the world-wide highly regarded SGS labs and the findings indicate a very high fixed carbon, very low ash and sulpher content with a high calorific value.
AIM would be pleased to provide the analysis upon request.
Why Does the World Need Anthracite Coal?
As a result of its attributes, anthracite coal trades at prices substantially higher than thermal coal and has a lower environmental impact. High quality anthracite is increasingly sought for by the steel industry, always under pressure to reduce costs and improve margins.
Metallurgical coal together with iron ore is the principal raw materials used to make steel. As such, it supports an improved quality of life for all of us through its use in the construction of homes and hospitals, and in the production of everything from mass transportation vehicles to wind turbines.
Due to its high carbon content and low volatiles, anthracite is more reactive and efficient with respect to energy released than the lower–ranked coals and consequently has a lower environmental impact due to the lower greenhouse gas emissions.
Urbanization of the emerging economies is resulting in the largest migration of people in human history. The infrastructure required to support the resulting rapid growth is creating unprecedented demand for steel and the coal needed to produce it. Combined with declining coal reserves it is anticipated that there will be long-term global shortage of metallurgical coals. Approximately 500 million tones of new annual metallurgical coal production will be required by the end of the decade to service the growth in demand.
The industry most commonly associated with anthracite is the steel industry.
Within the steelmaking industry, anthracite is used in three processes
Pulverized coal injection
Basic Oxygen Steel
Electric Arc Furnaces
The most common application of anthracite in steelmaking is in Pulverized Coal Injection (PCI) – a secondary stage of most steelmaking processes. Anthracite is injected directly into the furnace along with hot air. Using anthracite reduces the amount of coking coal needed in the first stage, and improves the quality of metal produced. In Basic Oxygen Steelmaking coke produced from metallurgical coal is used as a reducing agent to take out metal oxides. Anthracite coal used by steel makers can create substantial savings by replacing small amounts of coke with anthracite, saving up to 30% in costs.
Anthracite coal is also used for the processing of titanium, ferro-chrome, tin and aluminum.
Other industrial uses of anthracite:
Water purification and filtration and manufacture of bricks, wire, silicon and glass.
The high carbon content of anthracite makes it the preferred coal for gasification and liquefaction technologies to make urea fertilizers, plastics and high quality synthetic fuels.
In countries such as Ukraine and Vietnam anthracite fuels power stations for electricity generation.
For the large population not on the gas grid anthracite presents the most cost effective and environment friendly option for heating.
