Published: Wednesday, 19th March, 2008 12:00
Cost of reopening Longannet Mine is 'too great'
By Jamie MacDonald
Comments (0)
Print Article
Longannet Colliery would be too expensive to reopen, according to its current owners.
Pic by: Mike Gilbert
THE owners of Longannet Colliery have revealed that the prohibitive costs involved in dewatering the colliery could scupper any plans to re-open it.
The Advertiser recently reported that Scotland’s Energy Minister, Jim Mather, met Fife Council officials to discuss the part coal has to play in meeting the country’s future energy needs and specifically what role the mine at Longannet may have.
Although it is currently flooded, the mine is easily within reaching distance of a massive coalfield sited underneath Airth where it is believed there is enough coal to sustain Longannet Colliery for 30 to 40 years.
The outcome of the meeting was that the politicians were going to consult with relevant business, university and public participants over whether or not to commission a feasibility study.
Whilst this examination process is still ongoing the owners of Longannet Colliery, Scottish Resources Group (SRG), have stated the idea is not one they are keen to pursue.
A spokesperson for SRG told the Advertiser, “There are no plans to re-open Longannet Colliery.
“It would cost between £50 million and £100 million just to open it and that is before you have even extracted a piece of coal.”
The mine has been shut for almost six years when a flood engulfed the pit. The reason as to why so much water from the River Forth poured into the colliery has never been established – therefore a study would be required to establish these reasons before the costly process of fixing the hole and dewatering the pit could begin.
The spokesperson for SRG added, “The up front costs would be huge and with renewable energy, the energy policy could change in a few years.
“The issue does keep getting raised locally and it does make sense with a coal mine so close by but because of the depth of the trouble at the moment it would be too much to spend up front.”
The spokesperson did add that although the mine owners were not interested in re-opening the mine it might be possible for another company who were interested to buy it.
He said, “It has never really been looked into but if the right offer came along I’m sure it would be considered.”
Del.icio.us
Digg
Facebook
Reddit
Stumbleupon
Further Details
Tullibody mum is jailed for petrol bomb plot