Confrontation with Russia forced the UK to unfreeze the largest coal project
Woodhouse Colliery, the UK's first deep coal mine in over 30 years, was given the go-ahead for commercial operation by local authorities in October 2020, but the project was put on hold again six months later after opposition from environmental activists.
Boris Johnson said last November at the Glasgow summit that he "does not support more coal" but refrained from direct opposition.
Nevertheless, according to British media, the launch of Russia's special military operation in Ukraine united the British Cabinet in favor of launching the country's deepest coal mine.
Woodhouse Colliery will produce coking coal, an important component of the steel industry, as well as thermal coal that will not be burned in local power plants. So far, the UK has imported over 40% of its coking coal from Russia.