Global InformationCoal mining in the United Kingdom information
Coal mining in the United Kingdom dates back to Roman times and occurred in many different parts of the country. Britain's coalfields are associated with Northumberland and Durham, North and South Wales, Yorkshire, the Scottish Central Belt, Lancashire, Cumbria, the East and West Midlands and Kent. After 1972, coal mining quickly collapsed and had practically disappeared by the 21st century.[1] The consumption of coal—mostly for electricity—fell from 157 million tonnes in 1970 to 18 million tonnes in 2016, of which 77% (14 million tonnes) was imported from Colombia, Russia, and the United States.[2] Employment in coal mines fell from a peak of 1,191,000 in 1920 to 695,000 in 1956, 247,000 in 1976, 44,000 in 1993, 2,000 in 2015, and to 360 in 2022.[3]
Almost all onshore coal resources in the UK occur in rocks of the Carboniferous period, some of which extend under the North Sea. Bituminous coal is present in most of Britain's coalfields and is 86% to 88% carbon. In Northern Ireland, there are extensive deposits of lignite which is less energy-dense based on oxidation (combustion) at ordinary combustion temperatures (i.e. for the oxidation of carbon – see fossil fuels).[4]
The last deep coal mine in the UK closed on 18 December 2015. Twenty-six open cast mines still remained in operation at the end of 2015.[5] Banks Mining said in 2018 they planned to start mining a new site in County Durham[6] but in 2020 closed a major open cast site, Bradley mine, near Dipton in the county[7] and the last open cast site then operating in England, Hartington at Staveley, Derbyshire, also closed.[8][9] In 2020 Whitehaven coal mine became the first approved new deep coal mine in the United Kingdom in 30 years.[10]
- ^ Seddon, Mark (10 April 2013). "The long, slow death of the UK coal industry" (The Northerner blog). The Guardian. London. Retrieved 17 April 2013.
Earlier this month Maltby colliery in South Yorkshire closed down for good. At the end of a winter that saw 40% of our energy needs met by coal – most of it imported – we witnessed the poignant closing ceremony
- ^ "Digest of UK Energy Statistics (DUKES): solid fuels and derived gases". gov.uk. Retrieved 17 January 2018.
- ^ Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy, "Historical coal data: coal production, availability and consumption 1853 to 2022"
- ^ "Mineral Profile – Coal". bgs.ac.uk. British Geological Society. March 2010. Retrieved 7 July 2015.
- ^ "Surface Coal Mining Statistics". bgs.ac.uk. 2014. Retrieved 7 July 2015.
- ^ "Banks Mining looking to operate Bradley surface mine in County Durham". banksgroup.co.uk. Banks Group. 4 January 2018. Retrieved 17 January 2018.
- ^ "Bradley mine: Coal extracted for final time at County Durham site". BBC News. 17 August 2020. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
- ^ Ambrose, Jillian (22 August 2020). "Journey's end: last of England's open-cast mines begins final push". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 28 August 2020.
- ^ "The deadliest disasters in Derbyshire's mining history". Derbyshirelive. 9 January 2021.
- ^ "Jenrick criticised over decision not to block new Cumbria coal mine". The Guardian. 6 January 2021. Retrieved 7 January 2021.