Tata Steel has commissioned the state-of-the-art 2 million tonnes per annum (mn t pa) coal preparation plant, by transforming the oldest running coal washery at its Jamadoba colliery in Jharia.
It is pertinent to note that the company’s Jharia division has a leasehold area of 5,500 acres across two colliery groups — Jamadoba and Sijua — wherein the coal mining and washery plants are operated.
The advanced beneficiation plant would not only address issues like productivity, safety and environment but at the same time ensure production of washed coal at a competitive price for the company.
Salient features
The existing washery is in operation since 1952 which has been upgraded to one of the most modern washeries by incorporating dense media cyclone circuit for coarse, intermediate circuit for reflux classifier and flotation for fines circuit to improve production efficiency.
Besides, this is the first washery in the country with 100% dewatering facility built within the plant, thereby completely eliminating the need for tailing pond, auto sprinklers and dry fog systems.
The new set-up also comes along with a 400 kilovolt-ampere (kVA) uninterrupted power supply (UPS) for main mechanical ventilator which provides power back-up to the mine fan in case of power failure. Notably, this facet is the first of its kind in the country for any mine ventilation fan.
The company meets 100% of its iron ore requirements in India through its captive iron ore mines, but only a quarter of its coking coal requirements are catered through the captive coal mines.
In the year 2020-21, coking coal washeries of Tata Steel had achieved 53% yield of washed coal, which is expected to improve gradually in tandem with the mechanisation and modernisation programme kept in place.
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