Smart tech set to help beef up coal output

As energy demand in China peaks during the winter, Shanxi province, one of the major power hubs in the country, is strengthening efforts to ensure stable coal supply through intelligent transformation.

The province has established 30 green mining demonstration projects, with over 50 percent of its coal production utilizing smart mining technology and over 80 percent of its coal production capacity recognized as advanced capacity, said Zhang Xiang, deputy director of the Shanxi Provincial Development and Reform Commission, during a news conference this week.

Data from the province's statistics bureau show that Shanxi's coal production stood at 813.22 million metric tons in the first eight months of the year, about 26.6 percent of the national total.

Zhang said Shanxi will continue to push forward energy reforms by accelerating the development of a modern energy system.

The system aims to prioritize non-fossil energy sources, maintain coal and coal-fired power as essential safeguards, and apply advanced power systems as key infrastructure, while emphasizing green, intelligent and efficient energy use.

The coal sector, which is Shanxi's pillar industry, is steadily transitioning toward more sustainable and intelligent practices during its energy reform process.

The provincial government issued a plan last year to accelerate intelligent coal mine construction and the development of a coal industry internet platform, aiming to establish Shanxi as a leader in the digital transformation of China's energy sector.

According to the plan, nearly all coal mines in Shanxi are expected to be equipped with smart technologies by 2027.

The Tashan coal mine in Shanxi's Datong is one of the first intelligent mining demonstration sites in China. With an annual production capacity of 25 million tons, Tashan has continuously upgraded its smart mining capabilities since initiating its digital transformation in 2020.

The mine has achieved safer, greener, and more efficient coal extraction, with major frontline positions fully automated, saving tens of millions of yuan in labor costs each year, said Tongmei Datang Tashan Coal Mine Co Ltd, the coal mine's operator.

Tashan has 30 smart mining projects and has established an integrated platform with 10 core systems, 27 subsystems and 12 unmanned workstations. The mine has also employed robots for belt inspections, pump room maintenance, substation checks, intelligent sorting, and emergency rescue, pioneering a new model of intelligent mining that integrates comprehensive sensing, 5G transmission, autonomous decision-making and coordinated control.

"Building intelligent mines is crucial for improving safety and productivity," said Wang Lei, Party secretary and chairman of Tongmei Datang Tashan Coal Mine Co Ltd.

As of the end of August, Shanxi had built 134 intelligent coal mines and developed 1,564 smart mining faces, with 3,200 underground fixed positions now fully automated, ensuring a high level of coal mine safety, said Yan Zhongli, head of Shanxi's data bureau.

Similarly, in the coal-rich city of Yangquan, Shanxi Huayang New Energy Group Co Ltd's second division began its transition to intelligent mining in 2021.

"We have made significant progress, establishing nine intelligent longwall mining faces and 19 smart development faces so far," said Wu Ruiming, deputy mine manager for electrical and mechanical operations at the company.

Wu added that the mine's working conditions have vastly improved since its early days, with staff members now able to manage operations remotely through an intelligent platform, significantly boosting both safety and efficiency.

"We have installed over 1,200 video surveillance units across key underground and surface areas, enabling real-time monitoring and comprehensive safety oversight," Wu said.

The mine has also integrated data from ventilation, compressed air, drainage, power supply, and main transportation systems into a centralized intelligent control platform, overcoming long-standing data isolation issues.

"Going forward, we will expand the application of 5G technology, artificial intelligence and autonomous driving to achieve green, intelligent mining, clean and efficient energy conversion, and the development of an energy internet," he said.

Contact the writers at lijiaying@chinadaily.com.cn