Pet Coke

The government on Wednesday eased import norms for raw and calcined pet coke and permitted the inbound shipments to cater entirely to the domestic needs of aluminium and other industries. Earlier, it was allowed only for the aluminium industry. "Import of RPC (raw pet coke) and CPC (calcined pet coke) shall be permitted to cater entirely to the domestic needs of aluminium industry and other industries," Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) said in a notification. Pet coke is used for fuel purposes. In a separate notification, it said that Odisha's forest, environment and climate change department has been allowed additional time of 12 months for export of red sanders heart wood in log form. This wood is an endangered species of flora protected under the Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species of Flora and Fauna. Red sanders is found mainly in the Seshachalam hill ranges spread across Kadapa, Chittoor and Kurnool in the Rayalaseema region and parts of Nellor

The government on Friday permitted the import of pet coke for making graphite anode material for lithium-ion batteries as a feedstock and not for any other purposes. Import of pet coke for fuel purposes is completely banned. "Import of needle pet coke (NPC) is 'free' for making graphite anode material for Li-ion battery as feedstock/raw material and not for any other purposes, including use as fuel or for trade," the directorate general of foreign trade said in a notification. Lithium-ion batteries are used in electric vehicles. The DGFT, however, said that the sulphur content in the NPC should be less than 0.8 per cent, which would be monitored by state pollution control boards. It also said that the import of low-sulphur pet coke is restricted, and its imports are subject to authorisation from the directorate for use in integrated steel plants only for blending with the coking coal in recovery-type coke ovens equipped with desulphurisation plants. This is also subject to terms

Industry body said exemption available to coking coal was also removed by the government in 2014-15 Budget by bringing it at par with other types of coal and imposing 2.5 per cent basic customs duty

As per the existing duty structure, both coking coal and anthracite coal attract 2.5% import duty

Major aluminium makers Vedanta, Hindalco and Nalco import pet coke to make anodes for use in the smelters for electrolytic process to separate aluminium