The majority of coal shopped from the port is metallurgical coal.  Metallurgical coal is used in the manufacture of steel. Although steel is the most recycled metal on earth, scrap steel is unable to meet the demand.

Metallurgical coal is converted into the coke necessary to produce new steel. The coal is heated in an oven in the absence of air. Off gasses from the process are captured and burned as fuel to create heat for the process similar to using natural gas.

Metallurgical coal cannot be replaced by solar power or wind turbines.