Opencast vs deep coal mines: what’s the difference? UK transition from deep to opencast mining Deep (AKA underground) 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…
Welsh parties commit to restoration ahead of elections 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 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…
Our Wales Manifesto 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. Now Wales has the opportunity to shape something very different: a…
Lee Anderson MP on “dirty, horrible, dangerous” coal jobs 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 about the oil refining sector. During the debate, Lee Anderson MP…
2026 must be the year that new coal extraction will be banned 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…
A stainless future for steel? WORLDWIDE Carbon footprint The steel industry produces 9-11% of the annual CO2 emitted globally, contributing significantly to climate change. In 2024, on average, every tonne of steel produced led to the emission of 2.2 tonnes of CO2e (scope 1, 2, and 3). Globally in 2024, 1,886 million tonnes (Mt) of…
Lifting the lid on damage done by David Stanley Lewis of Pontypool “Dishonest” and convicted fraudster became Director of Ffos-y-fran coal mine In 2015, David Stanley Lewis took over operations at the sprawling Ffos-y-fran opencast coal mine from the previous operator, Miller Argent. The company became ‘Merthyr (South Wales) Ltd’ with a complicated corporate structure…
Westminster Hall debate – Coal tip safety & the coal licence ban Last month we worked with Members of Parliament from various parties on a Westminster Hall debate about coal tip safety and the prohibition of new coal extraction licences. The debate happened 59 years and one day after the Aberfan tragedy which killed 116…
Concrete opportunities for coal-free cement works Recommended actions: Concrete numbers Global cement production Worldwide, the amount of cement being used for every person in the world has nearly tripled in the past 45 years and demand is projected to increase over 33% by 2050. This demand is driving an exponential growth in cement production –…