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Aussie Miner
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

10 years ago

G'day from an Aussie Miner!
I am trying to find out if any Underground Coal Mines are still in production in Wales.
I can find references to a few of small mines but there is no current information if any are still working.
I am a semi regular visitor to the UK and try and go and visit at least one mine each visit. Last visit I went to Daw Mill just before it was closed.
Thanks

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Ty Gwyn
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

10 years ago

G-day to you butty,
Aberpergwm is the only Colliery working in South Wales,

Unity opposite has been idle for over 12mths,and the receivers were called in,But an Indian gentleman has either purchased the Colliery ,or has invested in it,but the old directors still seem to be involved,strange affair,

Dan y graig No.4 a Smallmine was still developing,but have not heard anything about this Colliery in a while,so not sure the situation.

That`s it for South Wales.

Graigfawr
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

10 years ago

Dan y graig No.4 seems to be declaring production to the Coal Authority so perhaps they have moved from development to production? I have the impression from comparing Coal Authority employment data (aggregated for Neath Port Talbot) with press reports on Aberpergwm and Unity that mention various employment figures, that Dan y graig No.4 employs no more than about three men.

From memory, Aberpergwm employs around three or four dozen men and is developing with limited production of a few tens of thousands of tons a year.

Unity remains mothballed.

And that is the sum total of the underground coal industry in Wales. There are eight underground coal mines in England and none in Scotland. A total of eleven in the UK.

rufenig
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

10 years ago

The (proposed) new Mines regulation include
"Tourist" mines.
I wonder if there will be more tourist mines than working ones! 😞

Graigfawr
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

10 years ago

When last I looked, there were about 30 operating mines for all minerals in the UK, so we may possibly already have (or otherwise soon will have) more tourist mines than operating mines!

Aussie Miner
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

10 years ago

Thanks for the information.
I will do some more homework on Aberpergwm.
FYI: Things for the coal industry over here are looking a little grim. We have already had a number of retrenchments and mines placed in "care and maintenance". Those producing high grade coal are fairing better than the steaming coal producers but it is expected to have more job losses and mine closures in the next 12 months or so. Hopefully things will turn around after that!

Ty Gwyn
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

10 years ago

Aberpergwm had around 70 working,with a few weeks ago taking on another 20 odd men,
As far as i have heard,the development towards Treforgan has been on stop for near on 12mths with only CM headings working coal in the old districts,with production of 2 to 3,000 ton per week,but not looked at the CA authority figures myself.

Good to hear of Dan y graig No.4 in production,but with only 3 men employed,i would imagine development is still in progress with minimal production.

Graigfawr
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

10 years ago

Thanks for the more informed employment data for Aberpergwm - I was typing from faulty memory!

By the end of last calendar year the Coal Authority was listing Dan y graig No.4 as a working mine rather than, as it had previously done, as a mine being developed. But with output of all mines in Neath Port Talbot aggregated into a single figure, its not possible to detect its output when submerged into Aberpergwm's output.

I'm guessing that Crofton is actively developing my now - if this is correct then we are, for the time being, up to eleven operating coal mines in the UK (including Unity - albeit mothballed).

Ty Gwyn
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

10 years ago

Has Crofton started?had not heard anything from the Yorkshire boy`s after planning had been approved,
Will inquire further.
Will also inquire further on Danygraig,last time i had news,it still had the bottom level to drive through 150m of gobs to reach the solid and connect with top level before production could progress,
The plan was for plough faces,but that may have changed.

Graigfawr
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

10 years ago

#10

Welsh Coal Mines Forum reported today on Crofton:

"We're hoping to sign off principal finance by the end of December then break ground on the site in April 2015 with a view to starting coaling in April 2016.

On that timetable we should have the pit bottom in the Sharlston Top completed by December 2015 but the production CM isn't expected to arrive until March 2016, hence the delay in starting production."

So - at present, ten operating coal mines in the UK including mothballed sites (definitely Unity; possibly Hilltop to judge from posts up-thread?)

ttxela
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

10 years ago

#11

"rufenig" wrote:
The (proposed) new Mines regulation include
"Tourist" mines.
I wonder if there will be more tourist mines than working ones! :(

How is a tourist mine defined? Would it include, for instance, a recreation of WW1 mining tunnels? (a relatively realistic underground recreation, perhaps using lined concrete culvert sections)

rufenig
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

10 years ago

#12

My interpretation (from studying the proposals)
Is that they intend to cover dis-used mines of all types that are being used to take visitors underground.
There may be an emphasis on "paying visitors" that is not clear (to me.)
For example, places like Big Pit, Llewernog, Sygun, Cwmorthin & Snailbeach should fall into "Tourist Mines.
But the Black country museum and the Ironbridge gorge museum exhibits (probably) do not. (But the Tar Tunnel does.)

I can not see that it is intended to cover reconstructions.
J.M.H.O. :smartass:
Including those at industrial museums.

Graigfawr
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

10 years ago

#13

I concur: for example at Big Pit, the workings accessed by the shaft would be a mine but the replica workings formed just under the hillside by cut-and-cover construction would not be a mine.

I'm less sure of the status of disused workings (e.g. a couple of North Wales underground slate quarries) that instructors take paying groups down as these as 'wild' sites that are not maintained (or at any rate do not receive much maintenance) whereas workings such as Big Pit receive continuous maintenance and rigorous and very frequent inspection in the manner of a working mine. (I'm not saying that the slate quarries mentioned do not receive inspection just that I assume it is less frequent than a working mine receives).

staffordshirechina
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

10 years ago

#14

If a mine has an owner and a manager and is used commercially not just for mineral, tourists as well, then it is working.
The mines used by outdoor centres are not working and are covered by an informal agreement with the inspectorate that they are inspected by a mining engineer as part of a scheme.
For a large part of the UK, I am that engineer.

ttxela
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

10 years ago

#15

Sounds like we don't have to worry too much about that aspect at least then 🙂

Peter Burgess
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

10 years ago

#16

Yes - Mr. China may have something to look at round our way some time. Very useful chappie.