Canadian coal company North Coal has enlisted Circulor to trace its carbon emissions and ensure ESG transparency across the steel value chain.

Circulor will work with North Coal to trace metallurgical coal and CO2 from its Michel project in British Columbia, and provide these numbers to customers and end users, North Coal said. ESG metrics will include CO2 intensity, the energy mix used to produce the material, and the level of indigenous engagement. Circulor has already completed initial traceability projects with North Coal.

These metrics will be digitised from product samples, and are expected to be completed in the fourth quarter.

This will enable North Coal to meet requirements for ethical sourcing and CO2 metrics, the company said.

North Coal is confident that coal will continue to be required for steel production in the coming decades, citing the major technology changes required to decarbonise steel production. North Coal maintains that its met coal has a high CSR rating, largely due from its use of hydroelectricity, and that net zero scope 1 and scope 2 emissions is possible.

Coal companies are facing mounting pressure from both consumers and governments to decrease their carbon emissions, with the COP26 climate conference currently underway in Glasgow.