West Cumbria Mining Ltd (WCM) has submitted two licence variations to applications for its proposed deep coal mine under the Irish Sea off the coast of Cumbria.
DECISION
On 15 January 2021, the Coal Authority received from the company an application for a conditional underground licence – variation for Whitehaven Offshore No.2 Area and for Whitehaven South Prospect.
A decision from the Coal Authority on both applications is pending.
WCM, backed by Australian investment company EMR Capital Resources, intends to mine for metallurgical coal, or coking coal, off the Cumbrian coast near Whitehaven.
BANKS MINING
On 24 November, the Coal Authority received notification from Banks Mining of withdrawal of its licence application for Bradley surface coal mine in Durham.
The company’s decision followed the Government’s refusal to grant planning permission to extend the mine.
Banks is still considering its next move after the Government also refused plans for an open cast coal mine at Dewley Hill, near Throckley on the border of Newcastle and Northumberland.
NEW AGE EXPLORATION
Other Coal Authority decisions pending include a licence application received on 12 May 2020 from Australian company New Age Exploration (NAE) for a metallurgical coal mine in Lochinvar Central, covering land from Gretna to Canonbie in Dumfries and Galloway, southwest Scotland.
The project comprises three adjacent exploration and conditional underground mining licences known as Lochinvar, Lochinvar North and Lochinvar South, all 100% owned by NAE.
The company has said it had identified a total coking coal resource of 111 million tonnes (Mt), comprising 49 Mt indicated resource and 62 Mt inferred resource.
NAE’s other projects are in Australia and New Zealand.
ENERGYBUILD MINING
Energybuild Mining Ltd, owned by American company Walter Energy, has applied for two licences – a full underground and a conditional underground licence – variation – for anthracite at Aberpergwm Colliery in the Vale of Neath near Port Talbot, South Wales.
The Coal Authority received the application on 16 September 2020 and a decision is pending.
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