Smart mining capacity now accounts for more than half of China’s total coal production, according to the 2024 Annual Report on the Development of the Coal Industry released by the China National Coal Association.
Source：Workers’ Daily
Smart mining capacity now accounts for more than half of China’s total coal production, according to the 2024 Annual Report on the Development of the Coal Industry released by the China National Coal Association.
Since the start of the 14th Five-Year Plan, China has accelerated the rollout of intelligent coal mines, significantly reducing underground labor and improving output per workface. The report highlights 2024 as a year of steady progress in building a “digital coal” ecosystem, with intelligent mining moving toward more systematic and integrated development.
Several key platforms have been launched, including the industry's first state-owned smart cloud covering the entire value chain, the first national blockchain service platform, the first provincial-level coal industrial internet platform, and the sector’s first large-scale AI model. AI applications are now used across more than 100 operational scenarios, and autonomous vehicles in open-pit mines are seeing rapid adoption, with usage doubling year over year.
Looking ahead, the industry’s priorities include deepening integration across the coal value chain, fostering competitive modern industrial clusters, and encouraging consolidation among qualified coal enterprises. The goal is to form three to five globally competitive coal giants through mergers and restructuring.
Innovation will be a key driver. The report calls for increased investment in R&D, stronger basic research, and the development of national research platforms tailored to the coal sector. Efforts will focus on aligning the innovation and industrial chains, attracting more R&D resources to coal enterprises, and accelerating the growth of tech-driven and high-tech companies. The report also highlights the importance of collaborative efforts to tackle critical technologies and equipment bottlenecks, supported by major demonstration projects.
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