The US Department of Energy (DoE) has signed a five-year memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the US Department of Labor (DoL) to speed up the use of AI, advanced sensors, automation and related technologies in the country’s mining industry.
The agreement is designed to foster cooperation between the two federal agencies, with the objective of improving worker safety, boosting productivity and supporting secure domestic supplies of critical minerals.
Both departments will combine their specialised expertise, with the DoE focusing on energy technologies and resource recovery, and the DOL contributing through its Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA).
The DoE’s Hydrocarbons and Geothermal Energy Office and Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation will collaborate with the MSHA to exchange non-proprietary research, data and technical knowledge.
The aim is to back the introduction of next-generation mining technologies.
Joint activities under the partnership are set to include collaborative research and development, joint testing and demonstration projects, and the application of advanced technologies to enhance operational safety and reduce mining accidents.
The initiative will also involve the National Energy Technology Laboratory Coal Center of Excellence, where multidisciplinary teams are expected to contribute to the acceleration of technology development and deployment.
Efforts will extend to digitising legacy mining data to improve access to public datasets on mineral resources, including resources located on federally managed lands.
In addition, the partnership plans to assess future workforce needs and support training to help miners adapt to increasingly technology-based roles.
US Secretary of Energy Chris Wright said: “America’s security and economic future depend on developing a strong domestic mining sector.
“By pairing the Energy Department’s technical expertise with the Labor Department’s leadership on mine safety, we can support American miners, secure domestic supply chains and put cutting-edge technology to work for the people who power our nation.”
