Abstract: Coal preparation is a complex process that integrates a multiple of technologies, systems, equipment and factors. Along with ongoing advancement of industrial intelligence, development of intelligent coal preparation plant has become the key direction for transition and upgrading of the coal sector. Yet, such a process is still in the initial stage, and the research work currently made in this respect is primarily centered on enhancement of automation level of individual equipment and optimization of partial systems. As a result, the plant is rendered weak in making whole process collaborative control and dynamic decision optimization and in other core capabilities. What′s more, only superficial work has so far been conducted on the direction for the development of the newly emerging blacklight plant with a forward-looking vision. In order to provide a theoretical support for planning and operation of the systems of such a plant, and in light of the state-of-the-art and developing trend of domestic intelligent coal preparation plants, analysis is made on the characteristics of and technical achievement obtained in development of intelligent coal preparation plants at the present stage, as well as the strange phenomenon of laying more stress on six aspects and less on another six aspects. Following an analysis of the challenges faced by the coal sector and the guidance of relevant policies, the feasibility of developing the blacklight plant and its basic features are investigated, with an aim to accelerate the development of such plants in China. The general idea for the development of blacklight plants and the points requiring for unified understanding on their development path are proposed. It is pointed out that the development of a blacklight plant should be carried out by stages form level L1 to level L3 in a planned way, namely, realization of first intelligent coal washing operation and then plant management, and turning the entire plant gradually from a partially intelligent type to a completely intelligent one. The work made in the paper provides a systematic solution with both theoretical and practical approaches for the development and promotion of a blacklight plant, and has an important reference value for green and low-carbon transition of China′s coal industry.