TAIYUAN (ANN/CHINA DAILY) – In North China’s Shanxi province, the Shanxi Chengfeng Coal Industry Company is employing AI to automate drilling processes in its mines.
Chief Engineer Wen Haiming highlighted this advancement, noting that a 1.5-metre-long drill pipe now collects data and images as it slowly moves towards a coal bed.
This information is transmitted to a control centre located 500 metres away, enhancing operational efficiency and safety.
The application of AI in underground coal mining extends beyond drilling automation. It also facilitates exploration and drainage, crucial for maintaining safety and preventing water-related accidents.
This technology also enables video monitoring and sensor-based operations, ensuring precise and efficient resource extraction.
Wang Yu, Deputy General Manager of Jingying Shuzhi Technology Co, emphasised the significant role of AI in improving the quality of drilling and construction processes.
The integration of AI into mining operations provides vital support, enhancing the overall safety and efficiency of underground mining activities.
Recognising the inherent risks in coal mining, China has been actively promoting the intelligent transformation of its coal mines.
This includes the widespread adoption of AI technologies to improve safety and operational efficiency.
By January, Shanxi had successfully implemented AI in 118 intelligent coal mines.
The Mataihao coal mine in North China’s Inner Mongolia autonomous region installed an intelligent monitoring and management system in 2022.
The system combines AI recognition and industrial operations technology to optimise the mine’s transport capacity in real-time and realize intelligent speed control.
Nie Helei, a member of the mine’s electromechanical transport team, said the system has effectively reduced electricity and equipment loss and realised balanced and flexible operations regardless of the amount of coal extracted.
“It is estimated that the system can reduce electricity consumption by two million kilowatt-hours each year and cut electricity bills by approximately CNY4 million (USD553,000),” Nie said.
Complex underground mining conditions and the geological structures of different coal mines mean there are high requirements for AI.
A group of coal mining enterprises in Shanxi has established an integrated industrial internet platform with a large AI model at its core.
The platform stores the data of more than 400 coal mines, said Wang Hui, general manager of Shanxi Jinyun Interconnection Technology Co.
“It can help lower the threshold of AI research and development, generate intelligent products quickly and achieve iteration and product innovation by providing massive amounts of coal mine application scenario data and large AI model training services,” Wang said.
