Tata Steel has commissioned a 2 million tonne per annum (mtpa) coal preparation plant in Jamadoba, as part of its Jharia division. The Jharia division of Tata Steel has implemented several automation and digitisation initiatives that have aided in improving operational excellence. Tata Steel said in a statement that their Jharia division has commissioned a state-of-the-art 2 mtpa coal preparation plant and a 400 kilovolt-ampere (kVA) Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS) for the main mechanical ventilator at Jamadoba colliery as part of its mechanisation and modernisation programme. The inauguration was done by D B Sundara Ramam, Vice President (Raw Materials), Tata Steel, in the presence of Sanjay Rajoria, General Manager, Jharia division. The 2 mtpa coal preparation plant, built with cutting-edge technology, has transformed the oldest operating washery in Asia into one of the most modern washeries in the world. According to the statement, the 69-year-old washery is a significant upgrade from a traditional set-up that uses a dense media cyclone circuit for coarse, an intermediate circuit for reflux classifier, and flotation for fines circuit to enhance production efficiency. It also claims to be the first washery in the country to have a fully dewatering facility built into the facility, removing the need for a tailing pond, auto sprinklers, and dry fog systems. According to the company, the massive UPS installed provides continuous power to the 450 horsepower mine fan and automatically switches over from DVC during a power outage, keeping it running for 40 minutes, giving enough time for power restoration or switch-over to captive supply. The firm emphasises that the massive battery backup UPS will not only improve mine safety and ergonomics but will also provide a more comfortable working environment for the miners. Since its inception, the Jharia division has been at the forefront of innovation and modernisation, with initiatives such as the chair lift man riding system, the cooling plant, and the low capacity and low-cost continuous miner with the haulage system setting new standards in underground mining in the country. Image Source Also read: Tata Power plans to become carbon neutral by 2050 Also read: New coal-fired power plants in India economically unviable: IEEFA report