One-day workshop programme on Sustainability in Coal Beneficiation: Challenges and Opportunities was successfully organised by the Coal and Mineral Processing Research Group at the Digwadih campus of CSIR-Central Institute of Mining and Fuel Research (CSIR-CIMFR), Dhanbad, on 29 January 2025. Various experts, representatives and researchers from various coal mining, processing and utilisation of the country, such as Tata Steel, BCCL, IIT ISM, NTPC, etc., participated in this programme.

In the inaugural session at the Digwadih campus, Shri Samiran Dutta, CMD, BCCL, was the Chief Guest. Prof. DD Mishra, Chairman, Research Council, CSIR-CIMFR, was the Special Guest.

Dr Pradip Kumar Banerjee, the outstanding scientist of the institute, welcomed everyone and wished for the success of the workshop. After that, a brief introduction and significance of the workshop was presented by the Chairman of the workshop, Dr Uday Sankar Chattopadhyay. He cited the sustainable contribution of CSIR-CIMFR since its inception in the area of coal beneficiation precisely in the development of the coal washeries of BCCL.  The workshop souvenir was also unveiled by the dignitaries.

In his address, Prof. DD Mishra mentioned that, in India, power demand is rising and it is difficult to meet this demand even if all the conventional and non-conventional power plants run at full throttle. In this context he clarified that coal is going to remain a significant fossil fuel for power generation, however, we must consider the environmental aspects as well. He expressed his best wishes for the workshop.

Dr Samiran Dutta in his address expressed that in the present scenario, global warming has forced the policymakers to re-evaluate the energy security and our mother earth needs to be compensated for the exploitations. For this, he described the significance of a proper mine closure plan. He stated that India majorly depends on fossil fuels for its energy security and economic security however to take care of environmental security scientific interventions are imperative. He further described the proposed plan of monetisation of BCCL washeries where the coal consumers will be encouraged to build washeries on the BCCL infrastructure and they can take away the entire washed product. At the end of the inaugural programme, a vote of thanks was proposed by Dr Manish Kumar Organising Secretary of the workshop.

Later, in the technical session Dr Uday Sankar Chattopadhyay, Mentor, Coal and Mineral Processing Research Group presented his talk on “Sustainability in Coal beneficiation and role of CMP Research Group”. Dr Asim Kumar Mukherjee, Chief, R&D, TATA Steel presented his views on “Challenges and Way Forward in Coal Washing for Steel Industry in India”. Next, Dr Shravan Kumar, Associate Professor and Head of the Department, Department of Fuel Minerals & Metallurgical Engineering, IIT(ISM), Dhanbad, presented his talk on “Clean coal recovery from middlings generated from coal washeries”. Shri Atanu Mahata, AGM, Coke Oven Operation, Shyam Sel & Power Ltd, WB, deliberated on “Challenges for Coke manufacturing in India with respect to present steel market scenarios and possibilities of washed coal usage in Coal blend without affecting required Blast Furnace Coke quality to compete with imported coke”. Shri Avinash Suman, Dy Manager (CP), CMPDI deliberated on “Unleashing the Potential of Coal Beneficiation: A Catalyst for India’s Energy Security and Economic Prosperity”. Shri B Ghosh, RDCIS, Ranchi, talked on the subject “Enhancing the use of Indigenous coking coal in Steel Making”. Shri Tymofiy Chernyayev, CEO, CHE-Industry Group, Poland, virtually presented on the topic, “Comprehensive solutions for improving the efficiency of coal washing plants: Technologies and equipment for processing and recycling coal processing waste. Design and engineering”.

In the valedictory function, Dr Ashis Mukherjee, Scientist Charge, CIMFR, Digwadih campus, felicitated the Chief Guest and other dignitaries/speakers which was then followed by open discussion among the members present. Mr BK Tiwari, Director, In-charge BSL, presented concluding remarks. Finally, Dr KMP Singh, Convenor, Organising Committee, gave the vote of thanks.