Intelligent mining machinery to replace Chinese laborers

A state-owned company said Wednesday that it has sold China's first domestically-developed "intelligent" coal-mining machinery, which is capable of mining coal without the aid of human laborers. Shanxi TZ Coal Mining Machinery Co., Ltd., which is based in north China's coal-rich Shanxi Province, said three sets of intelligent mining equipment were sold on Monday to domestic companies. The equipment sets, which are made up of machines designed to dig, convey and process coal, can be monitored and controlled by a single technician above ground, company spokesman Cao Keshun said. Cao said the machines can produce 10 million tonnes of coal annually in a single mine face, equivalent to the production capability of 50 to 100 workers. In 2012, 1,384 people were killed in mine accidents in China, or 37 workers killed for every 100 million tonnes of coal produced, according to the State Administration of Work Safety.