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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 2023 (compare to 2022 and 2021). In the past 10 years, UK coal production has fallen by 96%, down 22% from 2022. Net imports have also fallen 94% from the peak in 2013 (and a 54% reduction in 2023 compared to 2022). This is driven by declining demand for coal, which fell by a further 26% in 2023 compared to 2022 (demand fell 14% in 2022 compared to 2021). In 2022, imports accounted for 85% of UK's coal (63% in 2021). What alternatives exist to coal in the UK? See our illustrated solutions.

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 NEWS

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…

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…

Twitter-Storm against Cumbria coking coal mine

Following the shocking decision that the UK government are allowing a new underground coking coal mine under the sea by Whitehaven Cumbria, we invite you to show your disdain and join our protest. The action is a twitter ‘storm’ now that a decision has been made.

Whitehaven coking coal mine approved

At the end of 2021, Boris Johnson said, “I’m not in favour of more coal” in response to questions about the proposed Whitehaven coking coal mine during the Glasgow COP26 climate summit. Yet today a massive new underground coking coal mine…

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