Abstract: The ball mill coal-pulverizing (BMCP) system is a multivariable coupled system with long time-delay, large inertia and parameter uncertainties. This paper analyzes the dynamic characteristics of the BMCP system and proposes a control strategy based on a decentralized linear active disturbance rejection controller (LADRC). The proposed control strategy has simple structure, strong disturbance rejection ability, and is independent of accurate mathematical models. When it is applied to the BMCP system, parameter uncertainties, disturbances and coupling in the BMCP system can be estimated and actively compensated. Based on industrial control requirements, set point tracking simulation, perturbation simulation and random Monte-Carlo experiment are carried out. In comparison with a PID controller, the LADRC achieves better control results and has a stronger robustness.