Xinjiang Zijin Zinc, one of China’s largest lead-zinc mine operators, is gradually replacing traditional diesel trucks with a green fleet. Owner Zijin Mining Group says it stands as one of the single mines with the largest fleet of battery electric mining trucks globally.
Xinjiang Zijin Zinc operates the Wulagen mine in Wuqia County, Xinjiang. It utilises a smart, zero-carbon transport loop involving local wind, solar, and energy storage projects to source green power and achieve energy self-sufficiency.
The mine also built Xinjiang’s first dedicated battery swapping station, which was developed by Fujian Longking, a company in which Zijin is the controlling shareholder. This is achieving battery swaps in four minutes. Powered by the latest technology including AI, it automates 180+ battery swaps a day for 90-tonne trucks and enduring climate extremes during the year from -40°C to 40°C.
An intelligent tracking system monitors battery levels and real-time safety, cutting speeding violations by 75% and driving dispatch efficiency. With over 290 electric trucks now handling 80%+ of the mine’s transport, this clean energy and AI-driven model Zijin Mining says offers a proven, replicable blueprint for green transitions across Zijin’s open-pit mines worldwide.
The truck fleet is composed of a mix of models including battery trucks from Breton Technology, LGMG and others. These include the LGMG RTE136 90 t class truck which uses side swapping of batteries. Built on the mature LGMG RTH chassis, this model is a pure electric, super fast charge and autonomous truck, fitted with a 3.5 C fast charge battery of 872-1056 kWh.
Looking at the bigger picture, in its 2025 Sustainability Report, Zijin Mining states that for the year it actively drove a ‘diesel-to-electricity’ transformation, with 62.5% of its subsidiaries in the process of gradually introducing and deploying pure electric mining trucks, pure electric dump trucks, new energy heavy-duty trucks, electric forklifts and other transportation equipment to replace existing diesel vehicles. By the end of 2025, the cumulative deployment of various types of electric vehicles had reached 1,719 units.