From18 to 19 June 2024, organized by the China National Coal Association and hosted by Shandong Energy Group, the National Experience Exchange Conference on Intelligent Mining of Thin Coal Seams was held in Zoucheng, Shandong. The conference, themed "Innovative Drivers, Intelligent Mining, Green Low-Carbon, Happy Miners", discussed the latest advancements and development trends in intelligent mining technology for thin coal seams, as well as the application of intelligent equipment, and the latest progress in the intelligent construction of coal mines.

At the meeting, the responsible persons from National Mine Safety Administration, National Energy Administration, Shandong Provincial Coal Association, China National Coal Association and Shandong Energy Group delivered speeches respectively. Participants also include academicians from the Chinese Academy of Engineering, relevant persons from CHN Energy Investment Group and others, among whom, discussions were made on technical application, management innovation and others.

China's thin coal seam resources is known for its abundant amount and larger reserve ratio, which is widely distributed in the southwest, northeast and central region of China, and is an integral part in the energy mix that ensures the energy supply. At present, the reserves of thin coal seams below 1.3 meters in China account for about 20% of the total, and the reserves of thin coal seams in Sichuan, Hunan and other areas account for more than 50%. However, the coal seam below 2 meters in thickness is restricted by geological and spacial conditions, resulting in bigger mining difficulties and lower production efficiency, which is therefore in an urgent need for the wide application of the intelligent mining technology of thin coal seam.

In recent years, coal companies have worked closely with R&D institutions in cracking technical bottlenecks, and have successfully built a batch of intelligent and fully mechanized mining work faces for thin and relatively thin coal seams. Coal mines with different geological conditions, which have applied the advanced mining technologies and realized the intelligent and safe and highly-efficient mining for thin coal seams, include Yujialiang Coal Mine of Shendong Coal Company under CHN Energy Group, Zhujidong Coal Mine of Huaihe Energy, Yangcun Coal Mine of Yankuang Energy Group under Shandong Energy Group, Jiayang Coal Mine of Sichuan Jiayang Group and others.

As early as 2019, China National Coal Association organized National On-Site Promotion Meeting on Intelligent Mining of Thin Coal Seams in Zaozhuang, Shandong. Over the past five years, the coal industry has achieved a series of results in policy provision, technological breakthroughs, equipment development, and management innovation, pushing the intelligent construction into a higher stage.

This conference aims to promote the deeper application of intelligent mining technology across more coal mines and remove the "bottlenecks" in intelligent mining.

During the meeting, attendees also visited sites including Yangcun Coal Mine of Yankuang Energy, Binhu Coal Mine of Zaozhuang Mining, Yankuang Donghua Heavy Industry Manufacturing Company, and Intelligent Mining Test Center.