The coal industry produced almost 300 million tons yearly and employed 1.2 million people just a century ago. Long before that even, during Roman times, England was already mining.
But in 2019, coal-fired power made up only 2% of the nation’s electricity generation. That’s the lowest percentage it’s ever been since the electricity system was established in 1882.
The drop in demand is mostly due to the UK’s ambitious climate targets. This year, Britain went a record two months without burning a single lump of coal.
This month, England’s largest major coal mine – the Bradley open cast mine in County Durham run by Owners Banks Group – is closing after almost 200 years. The mine was producing 150,000 tons of coal a year and employed 250 people. The firm applied for an extension to keep mining until 2021, but it was denied. Extinction Rebellion protesters had blockaded that site last year in efforts to have the application denied.
Jamie Peters, Friends of the Earth’s campaigns director, said:
Communities are rightly proud of their heritage, but now coal must be consigned to the history books if we’re to prevent climate breakdown, and protect people from the increasingly severe heatwaves, storms, floods and droughts that are already battering the planet. Jobs can be created by investing instead in energy efficiency and the UK’s thriving renewables industry. A green and fair recovery from COVID-19 should be at the heart of all decisions the Government takes so that we can emerge into a better, fairer future.
Environmental groups have welcomed the news as it marks the end of an era for the British coal industry. However, now the trade will rely on imports from Russia or the United States for the UK’s cement and steel industries. That’s even worse for the environment because it causes emissions for the coal to be shipped. So now Banks awaits government ruling on opening a new site near a beach in Northumberland.
Lewis Stokes, Banks Mining’s community relations manager, said:
We hate having to make people redundant. But with the Government refusing to allow replacement surface mines, our coal miners have no coal to mine. What is galling to them is that they know that for many years to come, our steel and cement industries will rely on coal. That coal will be imported mainly from Russia.
For now, the firm’s 250 employees are out of a job, with only a few remaining roles for site restoration staff. Some people have been mining for over 25 years, who now face an uncertain future. Alan Mayman is one of the miners suffering such a fate.
Mayman told Sky News:
I’m devastated, absolutely devastated that it’s coming to a close. The county council and the government have done nothing to support us, so that’ll be the last coal mine that I’ll probably ever work on. Then that’s it.
Two months ago, the firm had shut down its sister site at Shotton in Northumberland. These back to back closures now leaves only one surface mine in Derbyshire open called Hartington. However, that one employs only around 15 people and will close once its remaining coal reserves are exhausted.
Lynne Tate, from campaign group Save Druridge, was pleased with England’s large-scale ending of coal production. She opposes the Banks Mining application in Northumberland. She said:
I’m glad for the fact I can look at my children and grandchildren and say at least the UK is trying to do something about climate change. If we carried on as we were, we would be no better than China and Russia and all those other places. It is the case that these countries have signed up to reducing CO2 emissions into the atmosphere, we all know it has to come down.
UK Government plans to phase out coal use entirely by 2025.
