Source: China Energy News
As of early May, 70% of Inner Mongolia’s operational coal mines have undergone intelligent upgrades, with the region’s mechanization rate in coal extraction reaching 100%, according to the Inner Mongolia Energy Administration. The shift marks a major step forward in improving the efficiency, safety, and environmental sustainability of coal production.
The region now leads the country in smart mining capacity, with 209 intelligent coal mines boasting a combined annual production capacity of 1.087 billion tonnes. There are currently 281 intelligent workfaces running at high efficiency, and 44 open-pit mines are actively trialing autonomous haulage, deploying 370 unmanned vehicles on site.
One prominent example is the Longwanggou Coal Mine, the first 10-million-tonne modern mine operated by China Datang Group. The site has implemented 98 intelligent subsystems across 10 categories—ranging from automated longwall mining to smart tunneling. Key equipment rooms now operate without on-site personnel, hazardous tasks have been largely replaced by machines, staffing requirements have been cut by 56%, and production capacity has increased by 50%.
Looking ahead, Inner Mongolia has outlined four priorities to further accelerate smart coal developmen：
1，Set clearer targets for expanding intelligent operations across more mines and production stages.
2，Upgrade aging infrastructure, with all top-tier underground mines and open-pit mines operating for more than a decade required to complete intelligent retrofits by the end of 2025.
3，Promote adaptive models, encouraging solutions tailored to local conditions and enterprise needs.
4，Boost innovation, supporting joint R&D efforts between companies and research institutes to tackle key technological challenges.
Reproduced article do not represent the position of New Energy Era.