Welsh coal revival? · AditNow Community

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Roy Morton
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Newbie Topic Starter

7 years ago

Any further non media info?
https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/local-news/underground-coal-mine-aberpergwm-reopen-14440177.amp

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Morlock
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7 years ago

Probably the best non-media views.

http://www.welshcoalmines.co.uk/forum/read.php?2,49031,72352#msg-72352

Roy Morton
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Newbie Topic Starter

7 years ago

Cheers Morlock. From the forum,I guess it's going to be a case of wait and see how things develop. Seems silly the place closed because of the price of coal on the international market, but perhaps leaving the EU may make it economical for Wales to sell at home if Brussels should impose tariffs on their exports to UK. Gahhhh! politics! :curse:

"You Chinese think of everything!"
"But I''m not Chinese!"
"Then you must have forgotten something!"

Morlock
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7 years ago

I wouldn't hold out too much hope of a revival as long as transport costs remain low from countries which have very much lower production costs. The UK Government also sees coal as something to be phased out.

DaveM
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7 years ago

with all the new tensions with Russia (biggest natural gas supplier) it would be sensible to maximise UK production of fossil fuels, theres still a lot of coal down there and new technologies mean it doesn't have to be a 'dirty' fuel anymore.

trebor
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7 years ago

Will Gas works start again once Gas from North sea runs out ?

Morlock
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7 years ago

Most of the 'tensions' regarding Russia are due to Russia thwarting western ambitions in Ukraine and Syria, a power struggle pure and simple. Russia will not cut off its nose to spite its face on a gas supply issue.
I believe the new 'clean coal technologies' will even further raise the UK costs of power production?

Morlock
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7 years ago

"trebor" wrote:
Will Gas works start again once Gas from North sea runs out ?

I suspect not as the world is currently awash with LNG, IIRC the UK recently bought two tanker loads produced from a Russian gas field.

RAMPAGE
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7 years ago

"Morlock" wrote:
I wouldn't hold out too much hope of a revival as long as transport costs remain low from countries which have very much lower production costs. The UK Government also sees coal as something to be phased out.

Well, I have it on very high authority today that this coal mine reopening is quite serious!

Beneath my steely exterior beats the heart of a dashing hero

towim
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

7 years ago

#10

Brilliant.

Ironing 2 miles deep into a system? you obviously dont understand.

Morlock
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7 years ago

#11

"RAMPAGE" wrote:

"Morlock" wrote:
I wouldn't hold out too much hope of a revival as long as transport costs remain low from countries which have very much lower production costs. The UK Government also sees coal as something to be phased out.

Well, I have it on very high authority today that this coal mine reopening is quite serious!

You may well be right, time will tell.:)

trebor
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7 years ago

#12

I have always been told that we were sitting on our coal reserves and using everyone elses, and that the US is currently sitting on last major oil reserves for same reason.

Morlock
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7 years ago

#13

That has been mentioned by various politicians but I suspect it will be a very long time before Welsh deep mined coal will become competitive against worldwide suppliers.
I'm not against Welsh mines reopening but see it as a long and uphill struggle.
Up until Tower pit shut we used to buy bagged Anthracite from the site office, Tower opencast site does not currently offer that option.:(
Result, I now buy coal bagged in the UK but probably mined abroad.

Coggy
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Newbie

7 years ago

#14

As our government is closing all coal fired power stations by 2020, what is the market for this coal ? (Unless we come to our senses and realise that wind and sun won't run our electric cars and cookers unless the interconnect cables between us and France can supply our electric)

if eight out of ten cats all prefer Whiskas
Do the other two prefer Lesley Judd ?

somersetminer
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Newbie

7 years ago

#15

"Coggy" wrote:
As our government is closing all coal fired power stations by 2020, what is the market for this coal ?

Most likely steel production. Lots of coals can be 'coked', some lend themselves to it better than others though. Even if they dont you can blend them with ones that do

legendrider
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7 years ago

#16

The cement industry for one, uses a pulverised coal/air fuel mix which just cant be replaced with solar/wind/wave power.

Add up all the other applications such as domestic fuel, preserved steam, and heirloom-quality commemorative mining figurines made from real coal (warning - contains polychlorinated phenolic resins - do not burn), and that's a LOT of coal we still need to import.

MARK

festina lente[i]

Morlock
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7 years ago

#17

"somersetminer" wrote:

"Coggy" wrote:
As our government is closing all coal fired power stations by 2020, what is the market for this coal ?

Most likely steel production. Lots of coals can be 'coked', some lend themselves to it better than others though. Even if they dont you can blend them with ones that do

Tata steel invested a fair bit in a feasibility study for a coking coal mine at their plant at Margam, it's not got off the ground yet due to a number of factors but cheap imported coal may be a big factor.

Morlock
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Newbie

7 years ago

#18

"legendrider" wrote:
The cement industry for one, uses a pulverised coal/air fuel mix which just cant be replaced with solar/wind/wave power.

I suspect coal is on the way out in cement production, gas/oil fired kilns offer easier control of firing parameters and stack emission control.
Interesting info on kiln fuels.

http://www.cemex.co.uk/alternativefuels.aspx

Morlock
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7 years ago

#19

"RAMPAGE" wrote:

"Morlock" wrote:
I wouldn't hold out too much hope of a revival as long as transport costs remain low from countries which have very much lower production costs. The UK Government also sees coal as something to be phased out.

Well, I have it on very high authority today that this coal mine reopening is quite serious!

Looks like you were right.:)

Ty Gwyn
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Newbie

7 years ago

#20

Re-opening is one thing,being productive and successful is another.

They still have going on for 2,000m to drive the new drift into the reserve,otherwise its working patches that have been left in the old district,

Pentreclwydau Colliery under the NCB failed to make a go of it in this reserve area,and Sevensisters Colliery in the Dulais valley all its workings stopped on the edge of this reserve,and Treforgan down in Crynant working up into this reserve also failed,

So Aberpergwm has a long way to go yet.