Inner Mongolia’s Zakhnuur Coal Company Rolls Out Advanced Autonomous Mining Trucks

On May 10, Zakhnuur Coal Company received 135 autonomous mining trucks, marking Inner Mongolia’s first unmanned mining fleet exceeding 100 units. This initiative aims to enhance safety and efficiency in challenging geological conditions, reducing fuel consumption and achieving high operational performance without safety incidents.

On May 10, 135 extended-range autonomous mining trucks were officially delivered to the Zakhnuur Coal Company, marking a significant milestone as the first project in Inner Mongolia to deploy over a hundred unmanned vehicles. The Zakhnuur Coal Company, which is part of State Power Investment Co, plays a vital role as an energy supplier in northeastern China, boasting an annual coal production capacity of 18 million metric tons alongside extensive earth and rock stripping activities exceeding 120 million cubic meters.

The coal site, situated in a high-altitude area, is characterized by challenging geological conditions, notably soft and water-saturated rock formations. In the pursuit of safety, cost savings, and operational efficiency, Zakhnuur has been actively developing intelligent and unmanned mining systems. This move follows an agreement in early 2024 with three significant industry players including EACON to launch a pilot initiative utilizing 33 autonomous trucks, which is quite the step forward for the company.

To date, these autonomous trucks have covered over 770,000 kilometers and successfully managed more than 5.25 million cubic meters of material. Operable at speeds up to 35 kilometers per hour, this impressive fleet has continuously demonstrated operational effectiveness, achieving up to 90 percent of the efficiency typically provided by human operators while simultaneously reducing fuel consumption by as much as 20 to 30 percent. Furthermore, it is noteworthy that there have been zero reported safety incidents since the trucks were put into service, highlighting their reliability.

The deployment of autonomous mining trucks in Inner Mongolia represents a significant technological advancement for the region. With the successful delivery to Zakhnuur Coal Company, this initiative not only emphasizes safety but also operational efficiency and environmental responsibility. As the company continues to innovate and streamline its processes, the impact on coal production could reshape mining practices in challenging terrains across the region.

Original Source: www.chinadaily.com.cn