TAIYUAN, May 30 (Xinhua) -- A heavy-duty machinery manufacturer in north China's Shanxi Province has produced a powerful excavator that can autonomously identify and excavate coal.

Taiyuan Heavy Machinery Group Co Ltd said Thursday that the excavator, which can be operated remotely, is capable of digging up to 3,600 tonnes of coal hourly.

The company's researchers said the "smart" excavator was developed at a cost of 440 million yuan (72 million U.S. dollars).

Chinese mining companies have been encouraged to use more heavy machinery to replace human laborers. The mining industry is notorious for frequent accidents that often result in heavy casualties.