The plan will be considered to actively use foreign workers to ease difficulties in the industry, which suffers from labor shortages due to poor working conditions. (image: Korea Coal Corp.)
SEOUL, Jan. 7 (Korea Bizwire) — Smart mining, which makes mining work unmanned and automated, will be introduced as a test for transportation work next year.
The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy said Sunday that it has finalized its Third Basic Mining Plan that includes such details. The application period is from this year to 2029.
In the plan, the government will increase the supply of mining equipment with Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to increase productivity at mine sites.
It will also introduce smart mining services, which will automate entire mining process, on a trial basis.
Smart mining is a system that uses ICT technology to locate minerals in remote locations in real time and monitor and control operation situations and hazards.
The system will be applied on a trial basis to loading and transporting work between 2021 and 2023, and will be expanded to drilling and blasting from 2024.
The plan will also be considered to actively use foreign workers to ease difficulties in the industry, which suffers from labor shortages due to poor working conditions.
Furthermore, it will raise safety standards to reduce mine disasters, and expand safety facilities and infrastructure.
By 2029, the government will install a central monitoring facility and emergency evacuation facilities in the mines and introduce advanced educational equipment such as virtual reality and simulators to improve workers’ educational environment and quality.
It will also support the introduction of related facilities and equipment to reduce fine dust in mines and help them to be used as tourism resources after they close.
Kevin Lee (kevinlee@koreabizwire.com)
