In Shanxi province, located in northern China and known for its vast coal deposits, artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing the mining sector and one example of this is a 1.5-meter drill pipe that automatically moves into the coal bed, with its activity monitored from a control center located half a kilometer away, where images and data collected are displayed.
According to Wen Haiming, chief engineer of Shanxi Chengfeng Coal Industry Company, this AI drilling automation is a significant breakthrough in exploration and water management, crucial steps to ensure safety in subway coal mine operations and prevent accidents.
AI and coal mining in China
The implementation of AI in these operations not only improves the quality and efficiency of drilling and construction, but also plays a key role in supporting subway mining activities, says Wang Yu, deputy general manager of Jingying Shuzhi Technology Co., Ltd, a provider of intelligent groundwater exploration services.
Recognizing the risks inherent in the coal industry, China has stepped up the intelligent transformation of its coal mines, encouraging the integration of AI in subway mining. By January 2024, Shanxi had established 118 smart coal mines and 1,491 smart mining sites.
A notable example of this evolution is the Chinese coal mine called Mataihao in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, which implemented an intelligent monitoring and management system in 2022. This system, which integrates AI and industrial operating technology, optimizes the mine’s conveying capacity in real time, achieving intelligent speed control.
Nie Helei, of the mine’s electromechanical conveying team, notes that the system has minimized the loss of electricity and equipment, allowing for more balanced and flexible operations. The system is estimated to reduce annual electricity consumption by 2 million kilowatt-hours and reduce electricity costs by about 4 million yuan (approximately US$553,000).
Challenges of AI in coal mining
Given the complexity of subway mining and the varied geological structures, AI faces significant challenges. A consortium of mining companies in Shanxi has created an industrial internet platform that integrates a large AI model, with an initial processing capacity of 64 petaflops.
Wang Hui, general manager of Shanxi Jinyun Interconnection Technology Co, Ltd, says the platform, which stores data from more than 400 coal mines, aims to facilitate AI research and development. With a planned processing capacity of more than 200 petaflops, the center is expected to provide strong support for the application of AI in coal mining.
The introduction of AI in coal mining not only promises improvements in efficiency and safety but also opens the door to a new era of technological innovation in the industry. By tailoring intelligent solutions to the unique challenges of mining, these technologies are laying the foundation for more sustainable and environmentally responsible mining operations, marking a step forward in natural resource management.
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Source: english.news.cn
Photo: shutterstock
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