US Departments of Energy and Labor ink MoU to accelerate AI deployment in mining sector  

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) signed on Tuesday a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) establishing a framework to accelerate the deployment of artificial intelligence (AI), automation, advanced sensors, and other emerging technologies across the US mining sector. 

The five-year agreement strengthens federal coordination to advance mining innovation while improving worker safety, increasing productivity, and supporting the secure domestic production of critical minerals, the DOE said.  

 By combining expertise in energy technologies and resource recovery with DOL’s longstanding leadership in mine safety, the partnership aims to advance the commitment to strengthen critical mineral supply chains, support high-paying American jobs, and unleash American energy dominance.  

“America’s security and economic future depend on developing a strong domestic mining sector,” U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright said in a news release.  

“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.” 

Under the agreement, DOE’s Hydrocarbons and Geothermal Energy Office (HGEO) and Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation (CMEI) will collaborate with DOL’s Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) to share non-proprietary data, research, and technical expertise that supports the deployment of next-generation mining technologies. 

The partnership will focus on conducting joint research, testing, and demonstration projects involving AI, automation, advanced sensors, and other technologies that improve mining operations; working with DOE’s National Energy Technology Laboratory Coal Center of Excellence to accelerate technology development and deployment.  

The initiative will also apply advanced technologies to strengthen hazard detection, reduce mining accidents, and enhance emergency preparedness and response and identify future workforce needs. 

It will also support education and training opportunities that equip miners with the skills needed for technology-driven operations to digitize legacy mining data and improve public datasets that support characterization of domestic mineral resources, including on federally managed lands.