Foreign Media Visits Yimin Open-Pit Mine: 100 Autonomous 90-Ton Trucks in Operation(Oct 9)

Foreign Media Visits Yimin Open-Pit Mine: 100 Autonomous 90-Ton Trucks in Operation

AI and 5G Transform Mining Operations

From urban traffic to industrial mines, from autonomous driving to artificial intelligence applications, the integration of China's digital technology with the real economy is continuously expanding new application boundaries. Foreign media recently observed China's digitalization development, extending from street-level to heavy industry frontlines. The Economist recently visited the Yimin open-pit coal mine in Inner Mongolia, experiencing the latest progress in AI, cloud computing, and 5G technology integration with the real economy.

Autonomous taxis now operate in many Chinese cities, and drone deliveries are increasingly common. But to see one of the heaviest autonomous machines ever deployed, one must travel to the grasslands of northeastern China, to the Yimin open-pit mine. This massive open-pit coal mine covers 42 square kilometers. Descending into the pit, approximately 100 trucks can be seen operating back and forth, each capable of carrying 90 tons of coal, yet not a single driver is visible. Where the cab should be, large black battery packs have been installed.

Workers Relocated, Operations Enhanced

Zhao Yaozhong, Deputy Mine Director for Technology at Huaneng Group's Yimin Coal and Power Company, stated that since the deployment of autonomous mining trucks, 120 workers have been reassigned to positions outside the pit, keeping them away from the dust and hazardous environments of the mining area. These vehicles can actually accomplish more work without drivers. They can operate continuously at night and in adverse weather, and even replace their own batteries autonomously.

If plans proceed on schedule, over the next three years, an additional 300 autonomous mining trucks will be deployed, and the majority of workers will be withdrawn from the pit.

Huawei's Mining "Army" and Enterprise Digitalization

Huawei, widely known for its telecom equipment and consumer electronics, is expanding its enterprise business. The Yimin mine's practices offer a glimpse into Huawei's growing enterprise operations. In 2021, Huawei announced that its core business was severely impacted by US sanctions, prompting the business division to form a series of new teams called "armies" -- teams focused on applying the company's expertise and technology across business areas to specific enterprise client segments, covering airport operators to oil and gas companies. The mining army is one such team.

The digitalization of mining reflects a broader trend: China's mining industry is undergoing a profound transformation from deep exploration to green development, from intelligent equipment to international cooperation. At the 2026 China International Mining Conference, a global largest pure-electric autonomous mining truck equipped with a fully self-developed L4 autonomous driving system drew significant attention, capable of stable operation in extreme cold of minus 30 degrees Celsius in Xinjiang, with a self-developed battery swap station achieving 6-minute automatic swaps and a daily maximum of 200 swaps, ensuring fleet availability above 95%.

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