~Tata Steel – committed to nation building since 1907 achieves yet another milestone~

It is a proud moment for Tata Steel, the world's 6th largest steel maker as its Jharia division celebrates a century of sustainable mining. The division started its operations in its Bhelatand 'A' collieries in 1910.

As the Jharia division of Tata Steel reaches this glorious milestone achieved by few, it is all set to celebrate this momentous occasion on April 4, 2009. The chief guest for the occasion will be Mr. H M Nerurkar, Chief Operating Officer, Tata Steel and Mr. A M Misra, Vice President (Raw Material and Coke, Sinter and Iron), Tata Steel will also grace the occasion. The fanfare and celebrations will not only acknowledge the dedication and commitment of the workers, miners and employees associated with the coalfields for the last 10 decades but will also highlight the achievements and high points of the division over the years. A special logo to mark the centenary year of the Jharia Division has been created. The logo captures the enthusiasm and pride of Jharia Division achieving this landmark and stands of the high quality standards of work followed by Tata Steel at Jharia. It symbolizes the perseverance and determination of those who have worked to take the Jharia Division to the levels it is at today.

To take his dream forward, J N Tata visited Pittsburg, where he was introduced to Mr. Charles Page Perin, an eminent consulting engineer and his able associate Mr. C M Weld who came to India to conduct an elaborate survey of iron ore and coal deposits in India. Mr. Perin finally concluded that the only coking coal in India for coking could be obtained from "Jharia" coal fields.

Thereafter there has been no looking back as Jharia coalfields have been fulfilling the coal requirements of Tata Steel. Spread across 5500 acres, six collieries of the Jharia division have been grouped in two locations - Sijua and Jamadoba. The Bhelatand Colliery that is celebrating its centenary this year was acquired in 1910 by Tata Steel (formerly known as Tata Iron and steel Company) and thereafter in 1918, it acquired Malhera in Sijua as well as Jamadoba, Digwadih and 6&7 Pits collieries of the Jamadoba group.

Jharia Division's sustainable mining continues to be the single most reason for the consistent growth and prosperity of Tata Steel, as it has contributed relentlessly to the expansion and growth projects initiated by the Company. In the years gone by, Jharia division has pioneered several technological innovations which have revolutionized underground coal mining in India. Coal mining and beneficiation in Jharia are a benchmark in mining in India.

A stark correlation between environmentally efficient operations and cost effectiveness is visible in the operations at the Jharia Division which exemplifies the mining procedures there. There have been innumerable energy conservation projects that have been initiated in that have set standards which many have aspired to match.

Jharia division has not only maintained high level of operations but has left no stone unturned in following the values of Tata Steel set forth by the legendary Founder of selfless service to the communities that it operates in.