Metallurgical coal, the key ingredient in steelmaking

In May, the United States made a landmark decision by adding metallurgical coal, the key ingredient in steelmaking, to its official list of critical minerals. This aligns the U.S. with countries like India, Japan, South Korea and Australia, all of which already recognize metallurgical coal’s essential role in national security, infrastructure and economic development.

This recognition matters, and it echoes loudly here in Crowsnest Pass. Our community was built on coal. The people who carved homes and lives into this rugged corner of the Rockies believed coal mining would sustain families, businesses and the local economy for generations. And for decades, it did. Today, as the Grassy Mountain project awaits its future, we are once again at a crossroads.

In a non-binding plebiscite held in November 2024, 72 percent of Crowsnest Pass residents voted in favour of the Grassy Mountain project, with roughly 54 percent voter turnout. More people voted in that plebiscite than in the last municipal election. This was not passive support, it was a clear, engaged voice from a community that understands what metallurgical coal means for jobs, opportunity and long-term prosperity. They know responsible, modern mining is not the same as the past practices that left environmental scars.

We have the science, technology and environmental safeguards to do this right. Steel is not going away. It is the backbone of the global economy, the foundation of bridges, vehicles, buildings and renewable energy infrastructure. You cannot build wind turbines, solar panels, power grids or public transit without steel. And you cannot make steel at commercial scale without metallurgical coal, at least not yet.

Those who argue for a world without coal often fail to distinguish between thermal coal, used for power generation, and metallurgical coal, vital for steelmaking. They paint all coal with the same brush, ignoring technological differences and global supply chain realities. This oversimplification hurts not only our local economy but also undermines the broader push for energy transition, which still needs massive amounts of steel.

Communities like Crowsnest Pass should not be punished for history. Yes, early 20th-century mining left environmental challenges, but today’s projects face strict reviews, reclamation rules and scientific oversight. Grassy Mountain was designed under these standards. It is no longer the wild west of mining.

The U.S. critical mineral list is not just symbolic, it reflects a strategic understanding that metallurgical coal is essential for national industries and supply chain security. By recognizing this, the U.S. and its allies are affirming what industry experts have long known: steel will remain a fundamental pillar of modern life, and metallurgical coal will remain part of the picture for the foreseeable future.

In Canada, we must wake up to this reality. While debates drag on over coal projects, communities like ours are left waiting as political fights and legal challenges stall projects that could bring hundreds of good jobs, millions in local investment and long-term benefits, all while the global market moves ahead.

The people of Crowsnest Pass have already said yes to metallurgical coal. They have said yes to responsible resource development, yes to a higher standard of living and yes to playing a key role in the global supply chain for infrastructure and green energy.

It is time for policymakers, environmental groups and critics to listen not just to history, but to science, technology and economics. Metallurgical coal is a critical mineral, not just for the U.S., but for Canada and the world. Crowsnest Pass is ready. Let’s not waste the opportunity. We have the ‘Black Gold’ now let’s get it to market!