West Cumbria Mining Ltd (WCM) said it aimed to begin producing coking coal during the first half of 2025 from its deep mine off the coast of Whitehaven.
TIMELINE
The company, which has published a timeline of its planned programme, has also moved its register inspection address from Surrey closer to its planned operations at Haig Office, Solway Road, Kells as recorded by Companies House.
During Q1 2023 and subject to approval, the company will begin pre-start activities entailing construction level detailed design; equipment orders; recruitment of delivery team; appointment of construction and rail contractors; and ecology, topographic and site investigation surveys.
WCM will build the mine from Q4 2023 to mid-2025 with simultaneous surface and underground construction.
The start of mine construction will encompass establishing the site with offices, welfare and power; tunnel portal construction; infrastructure of roads, drainage, culverts, lighting; and civil engineering comprising concrete pads, walls, structures, workshops, facilities and fanhouse.
Additionally, the company will build surface dome structures; coal processing plant and materials handling mechancial and electrical; electrical installations and connections.
WCM plans to construct a 2.3km buried conveyor from the mine site to the rail loader, and a 1.5km rail siding and connection to existing Cumbria coast line.
Production at the start of Q2 2025 will see the company increase and train its workforce in line with a rise in output to last over 25 years.
WCM will also have off-site forestry development and management in a carbon offset programme.
Coal production must stop by the end of 2049 after which it will restore the site.
CHALLENGES
The company added that two new legal actions against the Government, constituting a “statutory review”, are challenging the decision in the High Court with WCM as an “interested party”.
“A challenge cannot relate to the re-hearing of the evidence,” added chief executive Mark Kirkbride.
“It can only succeed if it can be very clearly demonstrated that there was an error in law, and that the error had a significant influence upon the decision reached.
“WCM is very strongly of the view that there are no such grounds for any challenge to succeed.”