JSW Steel, led by tycoon Sajjan Jindal, is actively seeking coal assets worldwide to secure raw material supplies for its expansion plans in India. As India's top alloy producer, JSW Steel aims to increase its capacity to 50 million tons by the end of the decade. To avoid supply disruptions and price risks, the Mumbai-based company has been exploring mining resources both locally and internationally.

Reports suggest that JSW Steel is considering bidding for a stake in the coal unit of Teck Resources, a Vancouver-based company. The search for additional natural resources aligns with India's infrastructure development drive, as well as the expansion plans of local steelmakers to meet growing consumption demands. Moreover, it coincides with India's efforts to reduce its reliance on thermal coal and achieve its net-zero target by 2070.

Joint Managing Director, Jayant Acharya, stated in an interview that JSW Steel is exploring coking coal assets in Australia and Canada, as some global miners are putting their assets up for sale or divestment. The company aims for backward integration by focusing on raw material security as part of its strategy.

JSW Steel has two new coal mine projects in India scheduled to start production in the next two and a half years. The company has also acquired six iron ore mines in recent state auctions to raise its captive raw material linkage from 45% to 75% of its requirements. Furthermore, JSW intends to participate in more iron ore auctions to maintain this ratio as its capacity expands.

While brownfield expansions are a priority for steelmaking capacity, JSW Steel is open to inorganic growth opportunities. The company has expressed initial interest in acquiring the state-run NMDC's steel plant. Additionally, JSW considers mining assets linked to Vedanta's steel plant more appealing than the plant itself, as Vedanta recently initiated a strategic review of its steel business.