Amendment in Import Policy Condition 6 (Pet Coke) under Chapter 27 of Schedule –I (Import Policy) of ITC (HS) 2022 - 10/2023 - Foreign Trade Policy

MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (Department of Commerce) (DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF FOREIGN TRADE) NOTIFICATION NO. 10 /2023 New Delhi, the 2nd June, 2023 Subject: Amendment in Import Policy Condition 6 (Pet Coke) under Chapter 27 of Schedule I (Import Policy) of ITC (HS) 2022. S.O. 2408(E). In exercise of powers conferred by Section 3 and Section 5 of Foreign Trade (Development Regulation) Act, 1992 , read with paragraph 1.02 and 2.01 of the Foreign Trade Policy, 2023 , as amended from time to time, the Central Government hereby amends the Policy Condition 6 of Chapter 27 of Schedule I (Import Policy) of ITC (HS) 2022 as under: Existing Policy Condition 6 Revised Policy Condition 6 Import of pet coke for fuel purpose is prohibited. However, import of Pet coke is free for cement, lime kiln, calcium carbide, gasification industries and graphite electrode industries for use as feed stock or in the manufacturing process only on Actual User basis. Further, 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 1.4MT per annum. Regulation and monitoring of such imports will be as per the guidelines of Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change issued vide O.M. No. Q-18011/54/2018-CPA dated September 10, 2018 Import of pet coke for fuel purpose is 'Prohibited'. However, import of Pet coke of the following categories shall be permitted, subject to conditions : Import of Pet coke is 'Free' for cement, lime kiln, calcium carbide, gasification industries and graphite electrode industries for use as feed stock or in the manufacturing process only on Actual User basis. 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. Import of Needle Pet Coke (NPC) (under HS Code 27131190) is Free for making graphite anode material for L i-Ion battery as feedstock /raw material and not for any other purposes including use as a fuel or for trade. The Sulphur content in the NPC should be less than 0.8% which shall be monitored by State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs)/CPCB. Import of Low Sulphur Pet Coke (under HS Code 27131190) is 'Restricted' and permitted subject to Import Authorisation from DGFT for use in I ntegrated Steel Plants (ISP) only for blending with the coking coal in recovery type coke ovens equipped with desulphurisation plant and not for any other purpose including use as fuel or for trade purpose. Use of pet coke shall be limited to 10% of its feedstock to the coke oven with pet coke sulphur content not exceeding 3%. Additionally, continuous analysers for measurement of sulphur dioxide shall be installed in the stacks of processes where waste / process gases which shall be monitored by SPCBs/CPCB. Low Sulphur Pet Coke shall not be used by the Steel Industry, either ISP or other steel producers, as fuel or for trade. Regulation and Monitoring of such Pet Coke imports shall be as per the guidelines of MoEF CC, issued vide its OM No.Q-18011/54/2018-CPA dated 10.09.2018. 2. Effect of the Notification: Import of pet coke for fuel purpose is 'Prohibited'. However, Policy Condition 6 of Chapter 27 of Schedule-I (Import Policy) of ITC (HS) 2022 has been amended to allow import of Needle Pet Coke for making graphite anode material for Li-Ion battery as feedstock/raw material, 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, subject to terms and conditions set out by MOEF CC. This issues with the approval of Minister of Commerce Industry. [F. No. 01/93/180/03/AM-10/PC-2(A)Part-IV/E- 35305] SANTOSH KUMAR SARANGI, Director General of Foreign Trade Ex-officio Addl. Secy.