NEWS RELEASE: 14 February 2002 ENERGY POLICY "MUST EMBRACE COAL"

Welcoming the publication of the Energy Report, Brian Rostron, Director General of the Confederation of UK Coal Producers, which represents all major coal producers in England, Scotland and Wales, said: "Logic dictates that a secure and diverse energy policy must include electricity generated from coal. The industry will continue to campaign for investment in the technologies which will enable coal to be burnt more cleanly and more efficiently, backed by the latest Government report which concludes that electricity from clean coal stations will be at least as equally competitive as electricity from renewable forms of energy in which we are investing our future so heavily.

"We look forward to playing a full role in the ongoing energy debate to ensure coal is able to play a full role in maintaining diverse and secure supplies of electricity to UK consumers."

Added Mr. Rostron: "Coal bounced back to generate nearly 40 per cent of Britain's electricity last year and was the fuel which kept the lights on when rising gas prices made gas stations uneconomic to operate. In the short term, the retro-fitting of clean-up equipment to existing coal stations will help maintain coal burn and help offset the punitive emission restrictions unreasonably imposed on coal plant. In the medium to longer term, new clean coal power stations will underpin access of customers to economic and secure supplies of energy utilising technology that meets their expectations on sustainability.

"Events of the past few years have proved that coal generates the lowest cost electricity. Coal is competitive, easy to transport and store, available from diverse sources and abundant, both at home and abroad. It offers long-term security and diversity of supply at an affordable cost. Technologies are being developed and demonstrated in other countries to burn coal more cleanly and more efficiently; it's a fuel which is going to be around for a long time to come."

MEDIA CONTACTS:

	CoalPro Director General	01924 200802
Stuart Oliver	Public Relations	01525 381759 (Mob) 07774 231178