Tata Steel stopped purchasing coal from Russia on April 20, clarifies spokesperson

Tata Steel has not purchased PCI coal from Russia since the company severed business ties with the country in April, said a company spokesperson. The Indian company announced on April 20 that it will not be doing business with Russia as a response to Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.

The statement was issued by Tata Steel amid rumours suggesting that the company continued purchasing coal from Russia.

The company spokesperson said Tata Steel would like to issue a clarification in view of the incorrect information floating around in some sections of the media with respect to the buying/ importing of coal from Russia.

However, a shipment of steel was received in May 2022 from Russia because the deal for the same was finalised in March 2022. A contract to supply 75,000 tonnes of PCI coal became effective weeks before Tata Steel announced the decision in April, clarified Tata Steel.

The spokesperson said the May shipment was received to honour the business commitment made before the announcement. Tata Steel had sought alternative supplies of raw materials for the functioning of its steel manufacturing sites in India, the UK, and the Netherlands.

Tata Steel has not made any fresh purchase of PCI coal from Russia post the announcement in April. As a responsible corporate, we have and will continue to remain committed to our stated stance and resulting obligations," said the Tata Steel spokesperson.