Introduction to Huawei’s Mining Solutions
HULUNBUIR, China. Huawei has unveiled its 5G-enabled mining solution, incorporating artificial intelligence and autonomous truck fleets, aiming to replicate this model in Latin America. The project focuses on enhancing safety, reducing emissions, and boosting efficiency in open-sky mines.
Huawei’s Latin American Expansion Strategy
Shao Qi, General Manager of Huawei’s Hydrocarbon, Gas, and Mining Division, announced that the company plans to test its mining solutions in open-sky mines in Mexico, Brazil, Chile, and Peru. This strategy is part of Huawei’s global initiative to diversify its presence in critical industries.
“Our tactical approach in this market is to select one or two countries in Latin America and the major mines of those countries for pilot tests,” Shao Qi explained during a press conference with regional media.
Daniel Zhou, President of Huawei for Latin America, mentioned that the company currently operates in at least 25 mines across the region, primarily focusing on infrastructure and critical energy for operational continuity. The new strategy emphasizes intelligent and green solutions.
Smart Mining in Action: The Yimin Coal Mine
Located in Inner Mongolia, China, the Yimin coal mine is the second-largest open-sky mine in the country with an annual production capacity of 35 million metric tons. Since May 2025, the mine has been operating with advanced 5G infrastructure developed and implemented by Huawei and China Mobile, alongside a fleet of 100 electric and autonomous trucks controlled by artificial intelligence.
The testing phase for transforming the mine began in 2019, starting with a fleet of nine trucks with ten different versions over four years. The trials aimed to test the operation of units in various environments and climates, especially during winter when average temperatures are -40 degrees Celsius.
The Yimin mine is considered the world’s first open-sky mine with this level of automation, a model Huawei seeks to replicate in Latin America.
The Yimin System: Combining 5G, Cloud Services, and Autonomous Vehicles
The Yimin system integrates 5G infrastructure, cloud services, and autonomous vehicles. Each truck can carry up to 90 tons and operate for 72 hours continuously with six-minute breaks for battery recharging. They have an eight-year lifespan.
The fleet replaces diesel vehicles, reducing annual carbon dioxide emissions by 48,000 tons. Shao Qi emphasized that even mines with 15 trucks can be automated, promoting greener and safer development.
The mine plans to expand its fleet to 300 trucks within the next three years and incorporate units dedicated to coal extraction, not just loading and dumping as currently practiced.
A Solution for Talent Scarcity
Beyond energy efficiency, automation addresses labor and safety challenges. In China, attracting young workers to heavy machinery operation in the mining industry is increasingly difficult due to an average worker age of 45.
Huawei highlighted that one central reason for promoting driverless vehicles was the lack of personnel willing to perform these tasks, considered strenuous and unattractive. In many cases, when older workers retire, there are no younger drivers to replace them.
At the Yimin mine, manual truck drivers were retrained to become operators in control rooms and fleet dispatchers. This shift reduced labor accidents and improved safety conditions at the mine.
The training process also allowed many workers to take on vehicle maintenance, production organization, and safety supervision roles. The goal is not to eliminate labor but redistribute it towards higher-value functions within an intelligent mining framework.
Latin America in Huawei’s Sights
Huawei acknowledges that Latin American trials will depend not only on technological availability but also on factors like telecommunications infrastructure, 5G network coverage, and each country’s regulatory and operational frameworks.
“It’s not just about technology; it’s also about the infrastructure environment and operational legal frameworks, which are quite different from China,” Shao Qi explained.
Mexico is crucial in Huawei’s strategy as it hosts the company’s largest regional representative office, providing confidence for local project development.
Latin America holds significant copper, lithium, iron, and coal mines of global relevance. Huawei is already in talks with major iron ore mine operators in Brazil, while exploring opportunities in Peru and Chile’s copper and other metal projects. In Mexico, the focus is on open-sky mines that can serve as test fields.
By pursuing this goal, Huawei aims to export its proven intelligent mining concept to Latin America, integrating automation, artificial intelligence, and clean energy to transform one of the most resource-intensive industrial sectors.
