THE debate has again begun raging over the proposed West Cumbria coal mine after a report by an environmental organisation.

According to data published by Friends of the Earth, the proposed mine at Whitehaven in Cumbria’s potential market will fall.

The declining market is a result of decisions taken by steelmakers across Europe to move away from coal and towards greener production methods.

It risks the mine becoming a stranded asset long before its proposed closure in 2049. 

Peter Harvey said: "The EU has 468 coal plants and building another 27, Turkey has 56 coal plants and building another 93, South Africa has 79 coal plants and building another 24, India has 589 coal plants and building another 446, Philippines has 19 coal plants and building another 60, South Korea has 58 coal plants and building another 26, Japan has 90 coal plants and building another 45, China has 2363 coal plants and building another 1171...so one in Cumbria won't destroy the plant."

Swivel Eyed Looney replied: "One won't destroy the planet, but it'll destroy Cumbria."

BIG Col said: "The mine is a private venture- if there was no market they wouldn't go ahead with it, for god's sake.

"Let's carry on importing coal from the otherside of the world and give them the jobs and investment."

Lifelong Uppy said: "Only 13% of the mine's production would go to UK customers - who themselves say they're not bothered about taking it or the mine opening. European demand is already tailing off, and by 2030s will have almost died off completely."

 

The Vindicator said: "FoE are only the messengers, the reports that Tata steel and British steel haven't supported the mine have been available for weeks. Also steelmakers in the EU have said that are concentrating on non fossil fuels.

"When the prospective customers are saying 'we don't need or want your product' it sort of undermines all the voices outside the industry suggesting otherwise."