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Key facts: illicit Ffos-y-fran opencast coal mine expansion

Find out more about how the Ffos-y-fran coal mine has managed to illegally siphon coal out for nearly 9 months so far without challenge.

Key facts & figures for 9 months of illegal coal mining

06 September 2022 - June 06 2023

Coal sold: approximately 300,000 (company-reported volumes based on actual and extrapolated official Coal Authority statistics)

CO2 from coal use: almost 1 million tonnes of CO2 (2022 BEIS Conversion Factors)

Methane from the mine itself: 2,077 tonnes (Global Energy Monitor)

CO2e from the mine itself: 931,000 tonnes in 2021 (reported by the company on p4 (7) for machinery, electricity, and gas combustion)

Coal operator: Merthyr (South Wales) Ltd – formerly Miller Argent Holdings Limited, subsidiary of Merthyr Holdings Limited – which is owned by Gwent Investments Limited

Parent company: Gwent Holdings Limited, owned by Mrs J H Lewis

Type: Thermal coal, some of which is ‘upgraded’ to be sold to steelworks

Mining method: Opencast

Claimed destination: steelworks, domestic heating, cement production etc.

Local Planning Authority: Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council

Address: Ffos-y-fran Land Reclamation Scheme, East Of Merthyr Tydfil CF48 4AE

Time: 15 years originally, then approaching 9 months in coal mining outside of planning control...and counting.

Published: 17/08/2022 Updated: 30/03/2023

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Ellen Fitzsimons
Ellen Fitzsimons
7 months ago

Profit over people and planet, DISGUSTING! What can we do?

Anne
Admin
7 months ago

This week we’re asking people to write an objection to the council. https://actionnetwork.org/letters/rule-out-expanding-ffos-y-fran-opencast-coal-mine Thanks

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