Photos of open-pit coal mining in China

Traditional manned trucks operate in the Huaneng Yimin open-pit coal mine in Hulunbuir in northern China's Inner Mongolia province China, Monday, Sept. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

Traditional manned trucks operate in the Huaneng Yimin open-pit coal mine in Hulunbuir in northern China’s Inner Mongolia province China, Monday, Sept. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

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HULUNBUIR, China (AP) — China is the world’s largest coal producer and consumer. In 2024, the country produced more than 470 million metric tons of coal, accounting for 52.6% of the world’s total.

This photo gallery shows the use of autonomous electric mining trucks at the Huaneng Yimin open-pit mine in northern China’s Inner Mongolia region. The mine has an annual capacity of 35 million tons.

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An excavator loads an autonomous mining truck in the Huaneng Yimin open-pit coal mine in Hulunbuir in northern China's Inner Mongolia province China, Monday, Sept. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

An excavator loads an autonomous mining truck in the Huaneng Yimin open-pit coal mine in Hulunbuir in northern China’s Inner Mongolia province China, Monday, Sept. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

Chimneys for a super low emission coal fired plant are seen near the Huaneng Yimin open-pit coal mine in Hulunbuir in northern China's Inner Mongolia province China, Monday, Sept. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

Chimneys for a super low emission coal fired plant are seen near the Huaneng Yimin open-pit coal mine in Hulunbuir in northern China’s Inner Mongolia province China, Monday, Sept. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

Workers walk past an autonomous mining truck in the Huaneng Yimin open-pit coal mine in Hulunbuir in northern China's Inner Mongolia province China, Monday, Sept. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

Workers walk past an autonomous mining truck in the Huaneng Yimin open-pit coal mine in Hulunbuir in northern China’s Inner Mongolia province China, Monday, Sept. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

A display shows propaganda video at the control center for Huaneng Yimin open-pit coal mine in Hulunbuir in northern China's Inner Mongolia province China, Monday, Sept. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

A display shows propaganda video at the control center for Huaneng Yimin open-pit coal mine in Hulunbuir in northern China’s Inner Mongolia province China, Monday, Sept. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

A board shows Chinese President Xi Jinping during his visit to the Huaneng Yimin open-pit coal mine in Hulunbuir in northern China's Inner Mongolia province China, Monday, Sept. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

A board shows Chinese President Xi Jinping during his visit to the Huaneng Yimin open-pit coal mine in Hulunbuir in northern China’s Inner Mongolia province China, Monday, Sept. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

Traditional mining trucks can be seen at the Huaneng Yimin open-pit coal mine in Hulunbuir in northern China's Inner Mongolia province China, Monday, Sept. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

Traditional mining trucks can be seen at the Huaneng Yimin open-pit coal mine in Hulunbuir in northern China’s Inner Mongolia province China, Monday, Sept. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

Excavators load material onto autonomous mining trucks in the Huaneng Yimin open-pit coal mine in Hulunbuir in northern China's Inner Mongolia province China, Monday, Sept. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

Excavators load material onto autonomous mining trucks in the Huaneng Yimin open-pit coal mine in Hulunbuir in northern China’s Inner Mongolia province China, Monday, Sept. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

A control center monitor autonomous mining truck operations in the Huaneng Yimin open-pit coal mine in Hulunbuir in northern China's Inner Mongolia province China, Monday, Sept. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

A control center monitor autonomous mining truck operations in the Huaneng Yimin open-pit coal mine in Hulunbuir in northern China’s Inner Mongolia province China, Monday, Sept. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

A viewing platform with the slogan "Accelerate the building of safe, sustainable, intelligent, benefit and happiness" at the Huaneng Yimin open-pit coal mine in Hulunbuir in northern China's Inner Mongolia province China, Monday, Sept. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

A viewing platform with the slogan “Accelerate the building of safe, sustainable, intelligent, benefit and happiness” at the Huaneng Yimin open-pit coal mine in Hulunbuir in northern China’s Inner Mongolia province China, Monday, Sept. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

Autonomous mining truck operate the Huaneng Yimin open-pit coal mine in Hulunbuir in northern China's Inner Mongolia province China, Monday, Sept. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

Autonomous mining truck operate the Huaneng Yimin open-pit coal mine in Hulunbuir in northern China’s Inner Mongolia province China, Monday, Sept. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

Autonomous mining trucks operate in the Huaneng Yimin open-pit coal mine in Hulunbuir in northern China's Inner Mongolia province China, Monday, Sept. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

Autonomous mining trucks operate in the Huaneng Yimin open-pit coal mine in Hulunbuir in northern China’s Inner Mongolia province China, Monday, Sept. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.