A new generation of young miners, equipped with advanced technical expertise and digital skills, is helping drive the intelligent transformation of China's coal industry at an accelerated pace.
Shanxi Province in north China, a key national energy base, produces an average of more than 3.5 million tons of coal daily, supplying much of north China with heat and power.
At the forefront of this endeavor are young workers like Yu Jinkang, a shift technician and Wang Shuai, a hydraulic support operator at Huayang Group's No. 1 mine.
Their daily routine begins before dawn, suiting up in more than 10 kilograms of gear before descending 400 meters underground, first by suspended personnel carrier, then by mine train, followed by a 50-minute hike to the coalface.
The mine, with an annual output of 8.5 million tons, is one of China's first smart mining demonstration sites. Here, a 2.2-meter cutting drum slices coal like cake, while intelligent systems automatically manage dust and temperature. Full 5G coverage enables instant video calls to surface engineers, dramatically cutting troubleshooting time.
"As a 5G-powered smart mine, we have real-time video monitoring of operations at the transfer point, allowing us to oversee equipment performance and personnel activity on the working face. We strictly adhere to the principle: no work proceeds without video coverage, without monitoring, and without supervision," Yu said.
This tech-driven approach has boosted efficiency, increasing daily coal output by 1,000 tons while reducing the workforce by half. For young miners like Wang, the transformation represents both opportunity and responsibility.
"I believe that if we choose an occupation, we should love it and commit to it fully. Having taken on this position, we must fulfill our duties conscientiously every single day. This is not only our promise -- it's our responsibility," Wang said.
"Youth is about making an impact. When our dedication and hard work are transformed time and again into raw coal that lights up countless homes, that is the moment of greatest pride and fulfillment for every miner. That's precisely where the meaning of our struggle lies," Yu said.
As smart mining expands, the blend of youth and technology is proving vital to modernizing an industry key to China's energy security and economic stability.
Young tech-savvy miners drive smart transformation of China's coal industry
