[SMM Steel]

Canadian mining company Strategic Metals released a scoping study and Preliminary Economic Assessment for its Division Mountain project on 20 August. The project contains a measured resource of 52.5 Mt of High Volatile “B” Bituminous coal and envisages an open-pit mine producing 0.5 Mt/y of clean coal, together with either one 100 MW or two 50 MW coal-fired power plants serving Yukon’s isolated power grid. At the proposed production rate, the measured resource could supply a 100 MW plant for approximately 105 years, although the preliminary mine and power plant designs are based on a 30-year operating life. The project has an estimated total capital cost of $978.6 million, while clean coal could be produced and delivered at an average cost of $52/t. Under the base case, an electricity sales price of approximately $194/MWh would be required to generate an after-tax IRR of around 8% at an 8% discount rate. With full carbon taxes, the required sales price would rise to $292/MWh. The project remains at a preliminary assessment stage, with no construction permits, financing arrangements, power purchase agreement or commissioning schedule disclosed.

Global seaborne coal flows increased by 1% year on year to 116.5 Mt in July 2026, although trends diverged sharply between coal types. Thermal coal flows fell by 2.3% to 87.3 Mt, mainly due to weaker demand in Europe and the United States. Meanwhile, combined thermal coal flows to the four major Asian importing markets—China, India, Japan and South Korea—rose by 18.3%, indicating strong summer power demand across Asia. Global seaborne metallurgical coal flows increased by 11.8% to 27.2 Mt during the same period. Imports into China and Japan rose by 30% and 24%, respectively, offsetting an 18% decline in India.

India’s Directorate General of Mines Safety withdrew permission for controlled deep-hole blasting at Bharat Coking Coal Limited’s New Akashkinaree Colliery on 17 August. The decision followed land subsidence above abandoned IX Seam underground workings near the mine. The regulator ordered the suspension of blasting and mining until a scientific study declares the area safe and fresh written approval is obtained. The mine has a normative annual capacity of 1.47 Mt, but its actual output before the suspension and expected restart date were not disclosed. BCCL’s raw coal production declined by 21.1% year on year to 9 Mt during April–July 2026, although July output rose by 3.4% to 2.45 Mt.