West Cumbria Mining Ltd (WCM) has received approval to develop the United Kingdom’s first deep coal mine in 30 years near Whitehaven off the coast of Cumbria.
NET ZERO
Secretary of state for levelling up, housing and communities Michael Gove granted his consent in a 419-page letter published on the night of 7 December.
“The Secretary of State has agreed to grant planning permission for a new metallurgical coal mine in Cumbria as recommended by the independent planning inspector [Stephen Normington], ” said a Government spokesman today.
“This coal will be used for the production of steel and would otherwise need to be imported. It will not be used for power generation.
“The mine seeks to be net zero in its operations and is expected to contribute to local employment and the wider economy.”
COAL MINE
WCM’s plans are for the £165 million Woodhouse Colliery to extract approximately 2.8 million tonnes of coal per year from under the Irish Sea.
The metallurgical coal will be used for the steel industry in the UK and Europe.
Australian investment firm EMR Capital Resources holds the majority of shares in WCM.
The specialist resources private equity manager focuses on mining operations, development and investment and has “deep linkages in the Asian and global markets.”
The company has offices in Hong Kong, Melbourne, Australia and the Cayman Islands.
BRIEF TIMELINE
WCM has been working on the mine plans since 2014.
The company’s application has attracted objections over concerns about climate change as well as support for the project’s employment creation and low emissions by reducing imports.
WCM has faced legal challenges, twice received support from the local authority and lost it, and heard concerns from the Committee for Climate Change.
The application was then called in by the Government, after the then secretary of state Robert Jenrick twice refused to do so, and underwent a public inquiry.
The Government’s final decision was postponed three times under three successive prime ministers.