DGFT notifies amendment in Import Policy Condition of Pet Coke [Read Notification]

The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry has notified the amendment in the Import policy condition of Pet Coke under Chapter 27 of Schedule –I (Import Policy) of ITC (HS) 2022 vide notification No. 10 /2023 on 2nd June 2023.

The Central Government amended the Policy Condition 6 of Chapter 27 of Schedule -I (Import Policy) of ITC (HS) 2022 in accordance with the authority granted by Sections 3 and 5 of the Foreign Trade (Development & Regulation) Act, 1992, read in conjunction with Paragraphs 1.02 and 2.01 of the Foreign Trade Policy, 2023, as amended from time to time.

Existing Import policy condition :

It is forbidden to import pet coke for use as fuel. Pet coke import, however, is free for use as feedstock or as part of the production process in the cement, lime kiln, calcium carbide, gasification, and graphite electrode industries, but only on an actual user basis.

Additionally, manufacturing facilities for calcined pet coke may import raw calcined pet coke up to 1.4 MT annually for manufacturing units and calcined pet coke up to 0.5 MT annually for the aluminium sector. Such imports will be regulated and monitored in accordance with the directions issued by the Ministry of Environment, Forestry, and Climate Change (MEF&CC).

Revised Import Policy Condition :

There is no change in the prohibition of Import of pet coke for fuel purposes. However, import of Pet Coke of the following categories shall be permitted, subject to conditions :

1. Import of Pet Coke is ‘Free’ for cement, lime kiln, calcium carbide, gasification industries and graphite electrode industries for use as a feedstock or in the manufacturing process only on an Actual User basis.

2. Also no change in the uses of Pet Coke in the Aluminium industry and manufacturing units. It was stated that an aluminium industry can import Calcined Pet Coke not exceeding 0.5 MT per annum and Calcined Pet Coke manufacturing units can import raw pet coke not exceeding 1.4 MTs per annum.

3. It was newly added that the import of Needle Pet Coke (NPC) (HS Code 27131190) is “Free” when used as a feedstock or raw material to make graphite anodes for Li-Ion batteries and not for any other uses, such as usage as fuel or for trade. State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs)/CPCB will check whether the NPC’s sulphur content is less than 0.8%.

4. Low Sulphur Pet Coke (HS Code 27131190) Import is “Restricted” and Permitted with DGFT Import Authorization for use in Integrated Steel Plants (ISP) only for blending with coking coal in recovery type coke ovens equipped with desulphurization plant and not for any other purpose including use as fuel or for trade purpose.

Pet coke’s use must not exceed 10% of the feedstock for the coke oven and its sulphur level must not be higher than 3%. In addition, in the stacks of processes where wastes or combustion gases must be monitored by SPCBs or CPCB, continuous analysers for monitoring of sulphur dioxide shall be installed. Low sulphate The Steel Industry, including ISP and other steel makers, shall not use pet coke as fuel or in commerce.

Through the current notification, the authorities allowed the import of Needle Pet Coke when used as a feedstock or raw material to make graphite anodes for Li-Ion batteries and Low Sulphur Pet Coke by integrated steel plants only for blending with the coking coal in recovery-type coke ovens equipped with desulphurisation plant, with subject to terms and conditions set out by Ministry of Environment, Forestry, and Climate Change.

It is pertinent to note that the Regulation and Monitoring of such Pet Coke imports shall be as per the guidelines of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), issued vide its OM No.Q-18011/54/2018-CPA dated 10.09.2018.

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