DECC is responsible for Government policy in relation to the UK coal industry, including relevant obligations under European Treaties such as compliance with EU Coal State Aid Regulations.
It also liaises with other relevant government departments on matters affecting the coal industry, such as environmental regulations and planning policies.
The UK Coal Authority collects and publishes statistical information about the UK coal industry, including mine numbers, output and employment. More detail is available at the UK Coal Authority website. According to its records, at 31 December 2010:
- there were 33 surface mines and 6 major deep mines in production in the UK
Employment
- deep mine sector employment was 3,548 (2009: 3,747)
- surface mine sector employment was 2,472 (2009: 2,165)
- Total employment was 6,020 (2009: 5,912)
- the majority – 3,808 (2009: 3,894) - were employed in England
- Employment in Scotland was 1,277 (2009: 1,242), all in surface mining
Production
- total output was 17.82 Million tonnes (2009: 17.28 Mt)
- deep mine production was 7.4 Million tonnes (2009: 7.5 Mt)
- surface mine production was 9.77 Million tonnes (2008: 9.4 Mt): output from this sector almost halved from a peak of 16.7 Mt in 1997 to only 8.6 Mt in 2006 but is slowly recovering
- Indigenous coal production is used mainly for electricity generation. Total coal-fired power station consumption in 2010 was 41.7 Million tonnes, with electricity output increasing by 3.9% over the previous year and accounting for 28.5% of UK supplies. Indigenous coal production still supports around 10% of all UK electricity supplies.
- UK coal producers believe that they can maintain their contribution to national energy needs at around 18 Million tonnes a year to at least 2020.
Coal state aid
During 2000-2002, some £162.2 million was paid under the UK Coal Operating Aid Scheme to help potentially viable mines overcome short-term market problems (in particular, low world coal prices and the relaxation of gas-fired consents policy) and to prevent a sudden sharp decline in the industry.
During 2003-2008, £52.8 million of Coal Investment Aid was paid to support specific projects to maintain access to viable reserves at 12 deep mines; this scheme is now closed.
Details of payments under both schemes are available on the spreadsheets: