PLANNED DISCRIMINATION Coal - Our Most Abundant Energy Resource. Why the presumption against mining it?

    Coal Production in the UK was 31.4mt in 2000 and 32mt in 2001 of which some 13.4mt and 14.5mt was produced from surface mines (opencast). Total consumption of coal was some 59mt in 2000 and 64mt in 2001. Coal used in power stations was 46mt in 2000 and 50.5mt in 2001 some 31% and 37% respectively of total electricity generation.

    The increased usage is because coal is the most economic fuel for electricity generation and offers maximum flexibility to load follow electricity demand. Coal will continue to be a significant contributor to the electricity generation market for the foreseeable future and this has been recognised in the recently published PIU Energy Review by the Government's Performance and Innovation Unit.

    There are substantial proven reserves of coal in the UK with over 50 years of accessible reserves available to the surface mining industry. The continued production of coal has major benefits to the UK's economy with a value of over £1.5 billion per annum, directly employing over 13,000 people in addition to providing employment at similar levels for the support industries.

    However the coal producers are losing confidence in the planning system to deliver sufficient permissions to maintain the industry at present levels. The remaining permitted reserves in England represent less than 3 years production, in Scotland where sites are larger it is 5 years and Wales some 6 years.

    The success rate for surface mining (opencast) applications is less than 33%, even after appeal, compared with all mineral applications which achieve over a 90% success rate. Why the difference?

    The main difference is planning policy, legislation and politics. DTLR and the Mineral Planning Authorities must ensure that a landbank equivalent to 10 years production is available to supply the national requirement for aggregates. Surface mined (opencast) coal does not have this as the Planning Guidance for coal has a presumption against the granting of planning permission for coal extraction.

    Many of the processes, plant and operations of surface mining and quarrying are the same albeit the timescales and final restoration may be different. However Coalpro maintain that the planning guidance and application is discriminatory. No other mineral or primary energy source has a presumption against recovery. Indeed Oil, Gas and Minerals are treated as strategic reserves - why not coal?

    There is no reason why we should replace indigenous production with imports. We have a product where the demand far exceeds the indigenous supply. There is potential to grow a business or at least retain what we have. Coal remains disadvantaged when compared with other energy sources which have either direct subsides or are given long term supply contracts to enable investment in new facilities.

    In order that coal producers can continue to allocate resources to promote new sites through the planning system and to invest in the future of there businesses Coalpro calls for:-

• The removal of the presumption against coal mining in the planning systems of England, Scotland and Wales.
• The acknowledgement that coal should have strategic reserve status like other minerals and fossil fuels.
• Positive political support from the both National and Local Government to enable the country's demand for coal to be met by indigenous production wherever possible.