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Coal facts, figures, and information

The UK coal flow from origin to destination

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.

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

REFUSED: Glan Lash opencast coal mine

Councillors voted unanimously to refuse the application, to loud applause. We celebrate that 6.5 hectares of trees, hedgerows, and fields were spared destruction in the refusal of this application…

Glan Lash extension to be decided

The Planning Officer’s Report lends much weight to Bryn Bach Coal Ltd’s (BBCL) claim that most of the coal will be sent to non-burn end-use. BBCL has increased the proportion of coal it claims will go to non-burn end-use in successive versions of its application, without justification for these shifting proportions. The reality is that market conditions…

“No time for a coal mine” banners appear on all major roads into Cumbria

25 large banners opposing the proposed new coal mine near Whitehaven with the words ‘NO TIME for a COAL MINE’ were dropped on all the roads entering Cumbria on the 25th August.

Energy Bill – cut out coal!

With a margin of 3 votes (197 for vs 194 against) in the House of Lords on 17th April 2023, Lord Teverson amended the Energy Bill to include a new clause on the ‘prohibition of new coal mines’…

Aberpergwm Judicial Review appeal

On 15th and 16th March, Coal Action Network took the Welsh Government and Coal Authority (UK regulator of coal mining) to the Cardiff court in a judicial review over their respective handling of the Aberpergwm application to extend workings by up to 42 million tonnes of coal and until 2039…

Glan Lash – write to your councillors

This drone footage shot on 06 April 2023 shows plainly the local environmental impact of the Glan Lash opencast coal mine, and sends a powerful message to Carmarthenshire’s Councillors, expected to make a decision in the coming months on whether to allow this local environmental travesty to expand in size and continue for longer…

Hearing delayed – challenges against Whitehaven coal mine approval

The legal challenges against the Government’s approval of a new coking coal mine in Cumbria has been delayed from October, likely into the new year. A Supreme Court judgement on a related case causes the delay, as the decision is awaited.

Judicial Review filed against Ffos-y-fran illegal coal mine

With support from the Good Law Project, we have filed for a Judicial Review against both the Local Council and Welsh Government’s continuing failure to stop Ffos-y-fran, the UK’s biggest opencast coal mine, selling off over 1,000 tonnes of illegal coal each day right under their noses and to the harm of local residents…

Upcoming events against proposed Whitehaven coal mine

Regular events are planned for outside the proposed site at Whitehaven. Come and show your support for leaving the coal in the ground.

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