Over 83% of coal production capacity in energy-rich Shanxi province is now classified as advanced, driven by notable advancements in intelligent mining, according to the provincial energy bureau.

Shanxi has constructed 244 smart coal mines and introduced intelligent operations in 1,594 mining faces, implementing smart mining across 60.48% of the province's total coal production capacity, the bureau said.

These advancements have yielded significant benefits in reducing labor demand, enhancing safety and improving efficiency. Shanxi aims to achieve full-scale intelligence across all its coal mines by 2027.

As the nation's top coal producer for four consecutive years (2020-2023), Shanxi has played a pivotal role in ensuring China's energy security. The province has undertaken the task of fulfilling medium- and long-term coal supply contracts exceeding 1.2 billion tonnes, guaranteeing power supply for 24 provinces and regions across the country.

In the first 11 months of this year, Shanxi churned out 1.16 billion tonnes of raw coal, down 7.3% year on year and accounting for 26.84% of China's total.

While maintaining ample coal output, Shanxi is leading the transformation and modernization of the coal industry, developing a standardized framework for smart mining and launching the nation's first provincial-level coal industrial internet platform.

It is also taking high-quality green mining initiatives, completing 55 green mining demonstration projects and adopting non-pillar mining technology at 120 coal mines.