Daily Telegraph: Britain to open first coal mine in 30 years because of sanctions against Russia
For the first time in 30 years, a coal mine will open in Britain. The UK government is taking this step against a backdrop of anti-Russian sanctions to reduce dependence on energy resources from Russia, reported Daily Telegraph with reference to sources in the ruling Conservative Party.
The Housing Secretary supported plans to open a Cumbrian colliery. The government believes that this enterprise will provide coal for the key steel plants of the kingdom. Mr Gove’s decision will now depend on recommendations that have been handed to him by the Planning Inspectorate.
Woodhouse Colliery, was given the go-ahead by local authorities in October 2020, but due to criticism from environmentalists and the opposition, the cabinet initiated a new review of its feasibility. In November 2021, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson did not support the construction of new coal mines during the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP26).
The Whitehaven mine will produce coking coal, an essential ingredient in steelmaking that will not be burned at power plants, the newspaper explains. Britain imported 40pc of its coking coal from Russia. Sources also clarified that Gove must make a final decision on the construction of the mine in Cumbria by July 7.
Earlier, on April 10, British operators of historic railroads announced difficulties due to dwindling coal reserves. There are more than 150 historical railway companies in Britain, which owns more than 900 thousand kilometers of track.
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