West Cumbria Mining (WCM) said it was delighted that the Government has lifted its holding direction on the company’s proposed deep coal mine near Whitehaven, off the coast of Cumbria.
ESTIMATED RESOURCE
Secretary of State Robert Jenrick MP has decided not call in the application for him to settle the matter and the plans will return to Cumbria County Council to formalise after giving its approval in October 2020.
The proposed mine, which has faced fierce opposition and support over the past six years, is planned at the former Haig Colliery, extending some four miles under the Irish Sea.
WCM said it held a series of licences covering in total 200 km2 off the coast.
The company has used existing data to estimate that there are more than 750 million tonnes of metallurgical coal across the licence area.
WCM added it intended to supply the coal to the UK and international steel industry as well as create hundreds of local jobs and across the county.
PREPARATIONS
Chief executive Mark Kirkbride described the planning process as being “extremely rigorous”.
“My team and I are now looking forward to concluding planning sign-off and then being able to commence preparatory steps to begin site work later this year.”
Majority shareholder in the company is Australian investment firm EMR Capital Resources.
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.