Minerals

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Opencast coal-mining
Opencast coal-mining has undergone a recent resurgence in the UK, mainly due to the increase in global coal and gas prices. Mining companies and power stations are increasingly looking to opencast mines to provide a cheaper supply of coal – in the first three months of 2009 opencast coal production increased by 15%, and for the first time, it now exceeds traditional deep-mining for coal across the UK.

Not only do opencast mines deface some of our finest landscapes and wreck tranquillity, they can have a devastating effect on nearby communities and wildlife, while hindering efforts to reduce CO2 emissions.

Carbon capture and storage
The Government has allocated £90m for research and investment into technology which may be able to capture carbon dioxide emissions from the burning of fossil fuels and safely store these emissions underground for extended periods of time.

There has been a commitment from the Climate Change Minister, Ed Miliband, to fit all new coal power stations with Carbon Capture and Storage facilities when they are available.  Investing in coal is a stop-gap at best - the Government should ensure it gives greater funding to investment in marine renewables and off-shore wind which will provide clean, sustainable and long term solutions to energy supply.

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