Coking coal, otherwise known as metallurgical coal, differs from thermal coal which is used for energy and heating. It differs from thermal coal because of its carbon content and caking ability, which refers to the coal’s ability to be converted into coke. Non-coking coal cannot cake and has a higher ash content. It’s mainly used as thermal coal to create heat, as well as used in industries like cement, fertilizer, glass, ceramic, paper, chemical, and brick manufacturing. This is an entirely different purpose than the manufacturing of steel, which is what coking coal is primarily used for. http://blairsergeant.com/what-is-coking-coal-and-what-is-it-used-for/