Our Submission to the DTI Energy Review (pdf document)

Coal makes a vital contribution to our national life.

• It provides valuable security and reliability of supply for electricity consumers. 
  There are significant reserves in the British coalfields, many overseas suppliers, and a diverse international supply chain.
  In the winter of 2005-06, 50% of UK electricity generation was coal-fired, helping the country absorb the shocks of gas shortage and price spikes.
  As Ofgem, has noted, coal is part of the solution to our gas supply problems.

• Its relatively modest price keeps electricity bills lower than they would otherwise be, making an important contribution to the battle against fuel poverty.
  • Unlike other fuels, indigenous Coal has no significant safety issues with its transport or use. 
  • It can readily, cheaply and safely stockpiled at the mine or the power station, helping to keep the lights on during periods of heavy demand.

• Advances in technology over recent decades have delivered dramatic reductions in emissions from coal-fired power stations, and new technologies promise even greater reductions.

• Coal mining contributes £520m pa to the UK economy. 
  In Scotland, it sustains many jobs in deprived rural areas where jobs of any kind, let alone family supporting ones, are hard to find. 
  It also maintains a key skill base, which is in increasing international demand.

• Open cast mining, the only method now in use in Scotland, can help with the regeneration of derelict ex-industrial land, removing environmental problems, and stabilising the surface ready for a range of productive uses, after the relatively short operational phase.  The power of modern earth moving plant opens up new possibilities for habitat creation, landscape improvement, public access and recreation.

• Coal has a vital role to play in tackling climate change too.  It will fuel the 90% of the growth in electricity generation world-wide for the foreseeable future. 
  So the development and deployment of clean coal technologies and carbon capture and storage must be the key objective in global efforts to reduce carbon emissions. 
  Modern clean coal boiler technology, coupled with biomass blending, can reduce long-term CO2 emissions by about 50% - the level of modern gas plants.
    Carbon capture and storage can reduce them much further - by more than 90%.  That is why Mining (Scotland) Limited embraces a clean, green coal strategy.