JSW Steel, India’s largest steelmaker by production capacity, has won the rights to develop the Minas de Revuboe (MdR) coking coal mining project in Mozambique’s Tete Province. The announcement marks a strategic move to secure long-term access to premium hard coking coal, a critical raw material for steel production, amid limited domestic reserves and global price volatility.
The MdR project, located in the Moatize coal basin, holds approximately 850 million tonnes of reserves, with the potential to yield around 250 million tonnes of usable premium hard coking coal. JSW Steel plans to develop the mine in phases. The first phase, targeted for completion in about 2.5 years, aims to produce 2.4 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) of prime hard coking coal. The project is situated about 10 km north of Tete city, offering logistical advantages with proximity to Beira Port (450 km) and Nacala Port (900 km) for efficient exports to India.
This development is part of JSW Steel’s backward integration strategy to reduce reliance on imported coking coal, which accounts for over 85 per cent of India’s requirements. By securing captive supplies, the company aims to stabilise costs, lower its carbon footprint in steelmaking, and support its ambitious target of reaching 50 million tonnes per annum steel capacity by 2030.
The mine’s development is expected to contribute to Mozambique’s mining sector growth while creating jobs and economic opportunities in Tete Province. JSW Steel emphasised that the project aligns with India-Mozambique economic cooperation and showcases India’s growing global footprint in strategic raw materials.
The company has already initiated early development activities following the rights acquisition, with full-scale operations to follow phased timelines. This step strengthens JSW Steel’s raw material security and positions it better in the competitive global steel industry.
