Coal mined at Ffos-y-Fran is transported via the Welsh Government-owned rail network, According to ITV Wales News.
Daniel Therkelsen, campaigner for the Coal Action Network, said: “The local council has betrayed residents who have suffered from noise and air pollution for 15 years, while the Welsh Government has stubbornly refused to step in and hand over its climate policy. Instead, it is for its own benefit.” Transporting illegal coal along the railway.
“We clearly believe that the Welsh Government should have a clear and comprehensive ban on any coal mining on Welsh land, in line with Scotland’s de facto coal mining ban from October 2022.”
The Welsh Senators’ climate change committee has written to the Welsh Government asking what it plans to do to speed up appeals, stop mining and ensure recovery takes place.
“The situation raises significant questions about the mine’s environmental impact, the effectiveness of the legal and regulatory framework and the impact on local communities,” wrote Llyr Gruffydd MS, chair of the committee.
recover?
Merthyr (South Wales) Ltd claims that it needs to expand the mine in order to fund the recovery of the mine, which has the potential to be One of the reasons for the project Originally licensed in 2005. Restoration costs are estimated at £7.5-125 million, but mining companies have allocated only £15 million.
The miner has paid out £41.5m in dividends to its parent company since 2017, according to an analysis of the company’s books by the Good Law Project.
The parent company, Gwent Holdings Ltd, which is controlled by the same family that runs Merthyr (South Wales) Ltd, reported a cash holding of £81.7m in March. The mine operator also paid £8.39m in “royalties” over the past three years to a company controlled by its director, David Lewis.
The mining company has also run into trouble with the Coal Authority, which issues permits for coal mining operations. The investigation found that the operator had been mining coal beyond what its license allowed and enforcement action was being taken.
Both Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council and the Welsh Government declined to comment for this article. Messer (South Wales) Ltd could not be reached.
the author
Catherine Early is a freelance environmental reporter and chief correspondent ecologist. She’s on Twitter @Cat_Early76.
