Russia Taps AI to Power the Next Generation of Coal Mining

Digital transformation is heading deep underground, reshaping how the country extracts—and reimagines—its oldest energy source.

In a bold bid to modernize its extractive industries, Russia is looking to revamp its coal sector with artificial intelligence and digital tools. The plan, announced by Kemerovo Region Governor Ilya Seredyuk, places innovation at the heart of a new economic strategy for the coal-rich Kemerovo Oblast—also known as Kuzbass.

And this isn’t theory. Across Russia, AI is already hitting pay dirt. One standout: “LitoText,” an AI-powered service that automates the analysis of geological core samples. Built on large language models, the system scans core descriptions in technical reports and identifies 16 physical parameters—including color, rock type, texture, and fracturing. The AI then parses the data and delivers a detailed geological summary—faster, more precisely, and at scale.

Meanwhile, Russian energy firms are deploying AI not just to analyze rocks, but to find them. At the recent "Innovative Technologies in Hydrocarbon Extraction" conference, domestic developers unveiled smart tools for identifying promising new wells and optimizing the recovery of hard-to-extract reserves.

Another game-changer gaining ground: the virtual flow meter. Unlike traditional hardware, this digital tool monitors well performance through real-time data analysis, pinpointing which assets can be pushed for higher output—without additional drilling or costly retrofits.

Taken together, these innovations point to a larger shift. By embedding intelligence into infrastructure, Russia is betting that its resource economy doesn’t have to be a relic—it can be retooled. If successful, Kuzbass may become more than a coal hub. It could be a proving ground for the future of smart mining.