BACK TO TOP

Coal facts, figures, and information

How coal flows through the UK

These are the most recent official energy statistics for coal from the UK Government for 2024 (compare to 2023, 2022, and 2021). They show a trend of declining mining, imports, and consumption of coal within the UK. What alternatives exist to the 2.1 million tonnes of coal the UK still consumed in 2024? See our illustrated solutions. What's the difference between opencast and deep coal mines?

DASHBOARD - UK coal trends for 2024

Coal mining

The Global Energy Monitor estimates 7.2 billion tonnes of coal are mined each year, from 3,670 recorded coal mines across 70 countries. Coal mining worldwide emits around 52 million tonnes of methane per year (equivalent to 4,320 million tonnes of CO2*), more than oil (39 million tonnes) or gas (45 million tonnes)....

Burning coal emits more CO2 than any other fuel source for the amount of energy it produces. Burning coal also pollutes our air with many other hazardous gasses, including nitrogen oxide, mercury, and sulphur dioxide – with global and local consequences for climate change...

COAL UPDATES

Rally to rule out expanding Ffos-y-fran opencast

Ffos-y-fran is a large opencast coal mine in Merthyr Tydfil, South Wales which has operated for over 15 years. On 06th September 2022, planning permission for the opencast coal mining came to an end… but the mining company continues mining an average of 1,000 tonnes of coal every day…

Coal on trial in Wales: the right to choose a coal-free future

We arrived outside the Cardiff courts to press teams and a strong demonstration in support of our case for a more sustainable future in Wales and the UK—one that cannot have coal in it. Welsh people are standing up to say they want to carve out a future that doesn’t carve up more…

Call to action – will Wales decide Aberpergwm coal mine?

Demonstration in support of a 2-day court hearing to rule that the Welsh Government can apply its strong policy against coal mining to stop the Aberpergwm coal mine expansion in Glyn Neath. Show up to show the Welsh Government that you care about fossil fuels and the climate change it drives…

Legal challenges against Whitehaven coal mine approval

Two legal challenges have been launched against the government’s approval of a new coking coal mine in Cumbria. Find out the details.

Petition delivered to the Welsh Government: call in and reject this coal mine!

In September 2022, Ffos-y-fran opencast coal mine’s 15-year planning permission ran out and the coal mine was due to close and restoration begin. However, Merthyr (South Wales) Ltd applied for a S73 time extension to mine coal at the site for a 9 months, with an intention to submit a further application for a 3-year expansion….

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

In September 2022, Ffos-y-fran opencast coal mine’s 15-year planning permission ran out and the coal mine was due to close and restoration begin. However, Merthyr (South Wales) Ltd applied for a S73 time extension to mine coal at the site for a 9 months, with an intention to submit a further application for a 3-year expansion…

Santa delivers Christmas coal to Gove for Whitehaven approval

On Wednesday (21/12/2022) a gang of Santas delivered sacks of ‘naughty list coal’ to Michael Gove at his Department of Levelling Up, Housing, and Communities office in Whitehall on behalf of Coal Action Network and Lush cosmetics. Holding signs reading “Christmas coal for climate criminal…

Flawed grounds of Michael Gove’s shock approval of the Whitehaven coal mine

The UK Government has produced a 15 page letter plus appendices which outlines the reasons for granting permission to the Whitehaven coal mine application (Ref: 4/17/9007). This is mostly in the form of highlighting points on which Michael Gove agrees with…

New research: coal mine restoration in Wales

This report combines field and desk-based research to shine a light on the continuing failure of Local Planning Authorities to honour promises made to local communities about how and when opencast coal mines would be restored. The research finds that mining…

Never miss an update! Sign up to our Newsletter

CONNECT WITH US

Share now: