In Inner Mongolia, a convoy of haul trucks rumbles across the dusty, jagged terrain of the Yimin open-pit coal mine. It is a familiar scene in this part of northern China, home to some of the country’s biggest mineral deposits, but a closer look reveals a futuristic twist to this age-old trade: the vehicles operate without drivers.
Yimin is one of the five largest open-cast coal mines in China. During peak season, it used to require about 300 trucks, operated by around 1,200 drivers working shifts around the clock, to transport coal to processing sites, and soil, sand and rocks to dumping grounds.
But managers said the mine faced a shortage of drivers. Dangerous driving conditions led to high attrition rates, compounded by declining interest among younger generations in pursuing this profession. “Truck drivers face exhausting workloads that often lead to health issues,” said Yimin mine director Shu Yinqiu.
The solution came earlier this year with a fleet of 100 photovoltaic-battery-powered, self-driving trucks. They represent the world’s largest deployment of autonomous electric mining trucks, highlighting China’s resolve to upgrade its traditional industries with advanced technologies, as the nation grapples with a shrinking labour force and an ageing population.
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China rolls out world’s largest fleet of driverless mining trucks powered by Huawei tech
China rolls out world’s largest fleet of driverless mining trucks powered by Huawei tech
As part of China’s push to digitally transform its coal industry – the largest in the world – Yimin was among the first to develop “intelligent coal mines”. The initiative stemmed from guidance issued in 2020 by several central government agencies, including various ministries and the National Development and Reform Commission, which outlined the construction of intelligent mines and identified autonomous driving as a strategic goal.
