With reference to representatives of the UK Conservative Party, The Daily Telegraph unveiled that the country is planning to launch the first coal mine in the last 30 years. The decision was taken amid numerous sanctions against Russia and as an attempt to reduce dependence on Russian energy resources.
Housing Secretary Michael Gove was the first who generated the idea of the coal mine creation. The colliery is likely to be built in Whitehaven, the county of Cumbria in the north-west of the country. The government believes that the colliery will provide vital supplies for steel plants and will support the UK economy amid the sanction fever.
Woodhouse Colliery was given the go-ahead by local councilors in October 2020. However, the initiative was deeply criticized by environmentalists. Later, the UK government conducted an investigation into the feasibility of building a deep coal mine. Notably, in November 2021, at the summit in Glasgow Boris Johnson said that he was “not in favor of more coal”.
According to The Daily Telegraph, the mine will produce coking coal. Earlier, about 40% of this coal type was imported from Russia. Until July 7, Mr. Gove has to take his final decision on the coal mine construction in Cumbria.
