【Global Seaborne Thermal Coal Flows Fall 2.3% in July, While Metallurgical Coal Flows Rise 11.8%】

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.

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.

Pakistan’s total power generation rose by 7% year on year to 15,122 GWh in July 2026. Imported coal-fired generation increased by 90% from 1,140 GWh a year earlier to 2,169 GWh, while local coal-fired generation rose by 10% to 1,650 GWh. Combined coal-fired output reached 3,819 GWh, accounting for 25.2% of total generation, with both imported and local coal generation reaching their highest levels for any July. Meanwhile, RLNG- and gas-fired generation declined by 33% and 9%, respectively. The generation cost for imported coal rose by 13% to Rs 16.33/kWh, while Pakistan’s average power generation cost increased by 38% to Rs 10.75/kWh.