Russia’s Coal Industry Embraces Smart Technologies
Drones, AI, and digital twins are being rolled out across coal mining operations, with officials framing the shift as both an economic advantage and a safety imperative.
Russia’s coal sector is undergoing a rapid technological transformation. Unmanned aerial vehicles and artificial intelligence are no longer experimental tools but are becoming standard practice across mining operations. Energy Minister Sergei Tsivilev, speaking on national television, said the integration of digital systems is boosting the industry’s competitiveness on the global market while opening new opportunities for the country’s energy sector.
According to Tsivilev, key innovations include the creation of digital twins of enterprises, the use of drones to monitor open-pit mines and assess shaft conditions, and the deployment of AI in coal extraction and processing. These technologies are making planning and production oversight more accurate at every stage of the supply chain.
Equally important, the minister stressed, is the safety benefit. Advanced monitoring and predictive analytics are reducing human risk and helping prevent accidents. To support these goals, coal companies are channeling significant investments into modern equipment and digital infrastructure.
