Environmentalists not allowed to replace Russian coal into the UK domestic raw materials
According to a report by the independent think tank, Green Alliance, the UK's first new deep coal mine for 30 years, not needed the country's economy and are incompatible with climate ambition the UK.
In March 2019 Woodhouse mine is worth 165 million pounds in Cumbria received the support of financial institutions, which led to protests by climate activists, who said that the mine is undermining the efforts of the UK to reduce emissions of CO2.
shaft, which can produce 2.5 million tonnes of coking coal a year for British and European steel industry, presented by Cumbria as a replacement of coke import from USA, Canada, Russia and Colombia.
In the report "Green Alliance" claimed that the mine, located along the coast from Whitehaven, will hinder the development of the production of low-carbon steel.
the report, written by two University professors specializing in environmental issues, it is argued that the opening of new coal mines will interfere with this strategy, ensuring continuous availability of cheap coal.
the UK has set a target to achieve by 2050, zero carbon emissions and has committed itself to move to reduce the production of carbon steel, announcing the creation of a Fund for carbon-free steel in August 2019.
Supporters of the project of construction of a coal mine they say that in addition of import substitution, the mine will create vital jobs. It is expected that there will employ 500 people, and in General in the supply chain will create about 2,000 jobs.
a representative of the Department of business, energy and industrial strategy noted that last year the UK has worked almost 4,000 hours without the use of coal for electricity production.
"the Termination of its use will be a key milestone on our path towards zero emissions. Although coal will soon no longer be a part of our energy system, the demand for coal will continue to grow in the domestic market in such sectors as steel," he said.