How we should face up to no coal mines in the United Kingdom

IT IS unlikely, in my opinion, that the Government will permit any new coal mining to take place in this country and soon all present production will cease.

As we know, all domestic burning of bituminous coal under the current legislation will cease by May 1, 2023 and with the exception of the steel and cement industry, coal consumption will all but disappear.

Where does this leave the heritage railway industry and what should it be doing about this issue?

Firstly, it should continue to lobby the Government at every opportunity to protect the exemption that they hold to burn coal.

Secondly, as they open up and welcome back the general public, who I am sure will return in their thousands, they should drive the publicity as hard as possible to show that the heritage railway industry is a huge part of our social structure and tourist industry.

Thirdly, they should continue to review its carbon footprint, and reduce it in every way possible to offset the carbon emissions from burning coal and make the public and the Government aware of what it is doing in this respect.

Finally, rather than seeing imported coal as a problem, the industry by necessity needs to embrace it. Whether we like it or not, imported coal will be the only source of coal the country will have access to whether it is for steel, cement or heritage railway use.

Importation of good quality coal with low sulphur and low volatile matter is the key. Some imported coals from Russia have a quarter of sulphur content of that which is contained in UK mined coal so by using coal from this source will reduce emissions.

Having to rely on imports is not ideal for the heritage railway industry and will be a huge challenge for everyone but after what we have all been through over the past 12 months surely we can rise to meet this one.

Roger Bearman,

director, Coastal Fuels Limited, Essex