MineHarmony: The New Landscape of Safe Production at Hongqinghe Coal Mine

In the heart of Inner Mongolia, the operational landscape of Hongqinghe Coal Mine, one of China's largest private coal mines, is being quietly transformed by technology. Not long ago, inspectors at this mine would carry detection equipment into each tunnel to record on paper the gas concentration and equipment status. Paper forms were easily damaged, data synchronization took a long time, and the work was physically demanding. These pain points have now been addressed by MineHarmony OS and Mining IoT (MineHarmony).

MineHarmony was first deployed for intelligent gas detection. Gas inspectors working underground no longer need to use pen and paper to record information or run back and forth to transfer data. They only need to carry a portable detector and an intrinsically safe mobile phone. After gas data is collected, it can be instantly synchronized to an e-whiteboard via Huawei Share OneHop, and then to the management backend system through underground Wi-Fi. AI algorithms enable the system to analyze current gas concentration and predict concentration changes based on historical data. This allows the system to significantly enhance its ability to prevent accidents by issuing early warnings.

Making all this possible is a complete process-based intelligent inspection system. The system at the back end has established a clear organizational structure and operational templates, supporting functions such as task distribution, personnel scheduling, and equipment ledger management. The gas inspection app at the front end, on the other hand, is designed to help miners in their work. It not only features voice input and data re-upload functions, but simplifies the operation process through visual design. For inspectors, their tasks have become clearer, the execution process more convenient, and most importantly, the entire workflow safer.

Conveyor belt inspection, a key link in the coal production process, has also undergone innovation. The three existing main conveyor belts at Hongqinghe Coal Mine have been upgraded through MineHarmony to achieve unified communications and intelligent collaboration. Inspectors only need to open the mobile app to view in real-time the operating status of the conveyor belts, motor temperature, tension level, and feedback from sensors. Issues that once relied on hearing, visual inspection, and experience-based judgment are now clearly visible through digital instruments. Abnormalities are instantly alerted by the system, and potential faults can be identified and handled in a timely manner, therefore reducing downtime caused by equipment failures.

What MineHarmony has brought to Hongqinghe Coal Mine is not only efficiency gains, but also economic benefits. According to preliminary estimates, the intelligent gas inspection system alone can help save about CNY200,000 (≈USD28,000) annually in costs on paper, printers, and other expenses. More importantly, digitalization has improved the inspection efficiency by 30%, effectively doubling the work areas without adding extra personnel. Also, by streamlining redundant positions and optimizing job configurations, an additional annual cost of about CNY300,000 (≈USD42,000) can be saved.

In terms of worker safety, the real-time gas monitoring and intelligent early warning functions of the MineHarmony intelligent inspection system have reduced the risk of miners exposed to dangerous areas. Instead of relying on instinct and experience, inspectors can make informed decisions by leveraging data and digital functions.

This technological transformation driven by MineHarmony is not merely an equipment upgrade or system upgrade—it's a new mine management paradigm. Deep within the shafts of the Hongqinghe Coal Mine, the MineHarmony intelligent inspection system operates quietly, enabling machines to communicate with each other. Miners now work in a more organized and structured way, monitoring and controlling underground operations from the comfort of a bright, modern command center on the ground. The transformation may unfold without fanfare, but its quiet momentum is silently reshaping the future of mining.