Zakhnuur Coal Company Launches Fleet of Autonomous Mining Trucks in Inner Mongolia
On May 10, Zakhnuur Coal Company in Inner Mongolia received 135 extended-range autonomous mining trucks, making it the first region to implement a project with over 100 unmanned mining trucks. This effort emphasizes safety and efficiency in challenging geological conditions, with significant reported benefits.
In a significant development for the mining sector, Zakhnuur Coal Company, a subsidiary of State Power Investment Co, received a fleet of 135 extended-range autonomous mining trucks on May 10. This marks the first time in Inner Mongolia that a project has deployed more than 100 unmanned mining trucks. The area is known for its challenging geological conditions, making this advancement noteworthy for efficient coal extraction.
Zakhnuur serves an essential role as an energy supplier in northeastern China, operating under an annual coal production capacity of 18 million metric tons. The site also involves substantial earth and rock stripping, exceeding 120 million cubic meters. Given the presence of soft, water-rich rock formations in a high-altitude region, the need for enhanced safety and operational efficiency is paramount.
Earlier this year, Zakhnuur formed a partnership with three industry leaders, including EACON, to pilot a project involving 33 autonomous trucks. Since the pilot’s launch, these trucks have collectively traveled over 770,000 kilometers and successfully managed more than 5.25 million cubic meters of material. Remarkably, they operate at speeds reaching 35 kilometers per hour, achieving up to 90 percent of the efficiency of human operators.
The implementation of these automated trucks has resulted in 20 to 30 percent fuel consumption reduction and, importantly, no reported safety incidents. As mining companies increasingly focus on intelligent and unmanned operations, Zakhnuur’s initiative could signal a trend in the sector towards more sustainable and safe mining practices.
The deployment of 135 extended-range autonomous mining trucks by Zakhnuur Coal Company represents a major leap in mining technology in Inner Mongolia. Designed to enhance safety and efficiency in challenging geological conditions, these trucks have so far demonstrated impressive performance metrics, including significant reductions in fuel consumption and zero safety incidents. This initiative could reshape the future of coal mining, as other companies may pursue similar unmanned solutions for operations.
Original Source: www.chinadaily.com.cn
