Key facts: Glan Lash opencast coal mine expansion

Bryn Bach Coal Ltd is the coal mining company that operates the Glan Lash opencast coal mine, which has been dormant since planning permission expired in 2019. In 2018, it applied for an extension which was unanimously rejected by planning councillors in 2023. Undeterred, Bryn Bach Coal Ltd is trying again! This time with a slightly smaller extension of some 85,000 tonnes rather than 95,000 tonnes. Check out the company’s application and public responses so far.

2024 Proposal (reduced the refused 2019 proposal)

Coal to be sold: 85,000 tonnes in total – average of 328 tonnes per week

CO2: Approximately 271,000 tonnes of CO2 in total (2024 BEIS Conversion Factors)

Methane: ~659 tonnes in total –  circa108 tonnes each year.

Coal operator: Bryn Bach Coal Ltd – since grant of planning permission January 2012 – 2019

Type: Anthracite coal

Mining method: Opencast

Purported destination: Brake pads, water filtration, brick colourant etc.

Local Planning Authority: Carmarthenshire County Council

Address: Glan Lash Mine Site, Shands Road, Llandybie, Blaenau, Carmarthenshire SA18 3NA

Physical size: 10.03 hectares, with a void of 5.92 hectares (extended void = roughly 11 football pitches)

Time: 5.4 years of coal extraction, 7 years of all works on the site