Researchers at the National University of Science and Technology MISIS have created standard coal samples that meet China’s stringent quality standards, making it easier to export Russian coal. This is the first time such samples have been produced in Russia. They are twice as affordable as the currently used foreign samples, aiding in import substitution. The widespread use of these samples is expected to impact pricing on both Russian and international markets, transportation tariffs, taxation, and environmental issues.
Russia ranks third globally in coal production and exports. Annual exports to the Asia-Pacific (APAC) are around 125 million tons (as of 2021), with half of this volume going to China, which has the strictest environmental standards for imported coal. The People’s Republic of China does not accept other countries’ certifications on coal’s environmental quality, instead conducting its own inspections at unloading ports for hazardous substances.
“Russian coal suppliers often find that their fuel is deemed non-compliant with standards at the Chinese border and cannot be imported into China. Companies then must return the coal, incurring substantial financial and reputational losses” explains Svetlana Epstein, PhD, Professor, and Head of the Physical Chemistry of Coals Laboratory at NUST MISIS. “To address this issue, MISIS University’s Technical Committee on Standardization No. 179 ‘Solid Mineral Fuel’ and the National Technical Committee No. 42 on coal standardization of the Chinese Administration of Standardization have signed a memorandum of understanding. Information exchange on national standards for solid mineral fuels can significantly impact trade between Russia and China.”
The Physical Chemistry of Coal laboratory at MISIS has developed new standard samples for several coal quality indicators, aligning nitrogen, sulfur, mercury, and fluorine contents with the national requirements of APR countries, particularly China.
“The use of standard samples in the calibration of analytical equipment will enhance the quality control of mined coal, its enrichment products, and resulting waste. This will improve the efficiency and environmental safety of mining operations,” notes Hao Jie, an engineer on the scientific project at the Physical Chemistry of Coals Laboratory at NUST MISIS.
Previously, standard coal samples were purchased exclusively from abroad, preventing their inclusion in the national Russian registry and making their use illegitimate. Additionally, the cost of one imported sample is more than twice that of the standard samples created at MISIS University.
“Evaluating the quality of coal products and the environmental indicators of mining and processing waste is crucial today for both coal producers and independent accredited testing centers. The availability of domestic standard samples certified for nitrogen, sulfur, mercury, and fluorine content will improve the quality of laboratory research and the adoption of new modern analytical methods in laboratory practices,” says Natalia Zhuravleva, General Director of the West Siberian Testing Center JSC.
Developing standard samples is a lengthy process involving research and experimental work for their production and establishing metrological characteristics according to certification methodology. Currently, scientists are working on standards for arsenic and chlorine content in coal and expanding the range for fluorine and mercury. In the future, researchers plan to develop certified standard samples for ash and slag waste and mining and processing mineral raw materials.
The studies are part of NUST MISIS’s strategic project Technologies of Sustainable Development under the Russian Ministry of Education and Science’s Priority-2030 program.
