Opencast vs deep coal mines

`to exploit coal seams near the surface (National Archives, n.d.) that were too shallow or fragmented for deep-mining techniques (Ritchie & Roser, 2019). The UK Government encouragement of opencast coal mining was partly the result of a need to boost coal production and a wartime shortage of labour to do it (British Geological Survey). Opencast coal mining was cheaper and used less labour - it also did not require the specialised skills that deep coal mines do. Although opencast coal mining was introduced as an emergency wartime measure, it persisted due to its economic viability compared with deep coal mining. Yet, despite this transition from deep to opencast coal mining, as of 2026, deep coal mines have outlived opencast coal mines as the only active mines remaining in the UK - namely, Aberpergwm in South Wales and the relatively small Ayle Colliery in Northumberland.

The Opencast Coal Act 1958 provided the first comprehensive legal framework for the industry, regulating land acquisition and restoration requirements as the practice moved from emergency status to a long-term economic strategy. However, today we see that this legislation and subsequent legislation was not strong enough to secure restoration of the sprawling opencast coal mines.

Deep coal mining

METHANE: As the name suggests, mining goes deep underground where there are often higher concentrations of methane that are stored there under the pressure of the rocks and soil above it. Excavation allows that methane to escape (fugitive methane emissions) into our atmosphere. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas. Even after coal mining has finished, deep coal mines can continue leaking methane gas for decades, driving climate chaos and posing dangers to the public of explosion and suffocation near to shafts. Internationally, there is growing awareness of this issue and attempts to monitor and control leakage, but progress is slow. An estimated 40 million tonnes of methane leaked from coal mines in 2024.
SURFACE STABILITY: When mining stops so does pumping water out to keep the mines dry. As the water slowly fills the mine from surrounding soil up to the water table, it can -along with time - it can cause the collapse of the pillars left in underground mining to hold up the roof of underground tunnels. This can then create 'sink holes' on the surface, and subsidence for houses built above tunnels. With the location of earlier mining works often undocumented, it is not always possible to assess the risks.
WATER POLLUTION: When deep mines close, pumping out the water is stopped and the water levels rebound up to the 'water-table'. As water fills the mining tunnels and shafts, it reacts with minerals like pyrite, creating acidic, iron-rich water which can kill aquatic live if it enters rivers as well as pollute drinking water. At a number of mines around the UK, the Mining Remediation Authority pumps up mine water to clean it, then return it to the mine.

May 7th 2026

Deep coal mines have a long history in the UK dating back some 400 years. On the other hand, opencast coal mines only became common between 1940 and 60, becoming the dominant mining method in the UK as deep coal mining entered rapid decline. Opencast coal mining techniques…

Welsh parties commit to restoration ahead of elections

May 1st 2026

We worked with media outlet, Nation.Cymru, to ask where the main political parties in Wales stands on restoration issues ahead of the Welsh election on 07th May 2026. This is a key issue for many people, but particularly those who live near under-restored opencast coal mine sites…

Ben Hodge-McKenna on reopening Welsh coal mines

April 24th 2026

As part of our Politics Unspun series we are unpacking politicians’ public comments on coal to challenge any misleading or incorrect messages. Todays’ focus is on comments made in a BBC interview during the Senedd election campaign about coal mining in Wales. During the interview, Reform UK candidate in Afan Ogwr Rhondda, Ben Hodge-McKenna…

Our 2026 Wales manifesto

February 19th 2026

Coal Action Network is proud to present our 2026 manifesto for Wales. With the Senedd elections taking place in May this year, Wales stands at a decisive moment. For over a century, coal has shaped Welsh landscapes, communities, and politics. Today, Wales has the opportunity to shape something very different…

Lee Anderson on dirty, horrible, dangerous coal jobs

January 28th 2026

As part of our Politics Unspun series we are unpacking politicians’ public comments on coal to challenge any misleading or incorrect messages. Todays’ focus is on comments made during a Westminster Hall debate in December 2025 about the oil refining sector. During the debate, Lee Anderson MP made some statements about coal…

Take Action – End new English coal

January 27th 2026

The Government is reforming planning policy in England and thanks to thousands of our supporters asking for an end to coal extraction in the last consultation in 2024, they are now recommending that planners “should not identify new sites or extensions to existing sites for peat or coal extraction”…

Demand nature be restored to Ffos-y-fran opencast site

January 9th 2026

Merthyr (South Wales) Ltd mined for over a year illegally after planning permission for the Ffos-y-fran opencast coal mine ended in September 2022. During that year, it made record-breaking profits due to sanctions on Russia and other factors driving up the price of coal. But rather than using some of the profits from that ill-gotten coal…

2026 must be the year that new coal extraction will be banned

December 3rd 2025

In November 2024, the new UK Government announced its intention to legislate a ban of new coal mining licences – which we welcomed. Over a year later, the legislation is yet to be introduced, and the Government is not planning to include all types of extraction…

Where our coal comes from

November 21st 2025

The UK steel and cement sectors (and to a lesser extent, bricks) are the largest users of coal following the closing down of the UK’s last coal-fired power station in September 2024. Check out our coal dashboard for our most recent coal stats including an industry break-down. We support the UK Government’s commitment to ban…

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