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• Opencast coal mining survey statistics 2007

Opencast coal mining survey statistics 2007

The opencast coal mining survey for 2007 was undertaken by the British Geological Survey (BGS), with support from Communities and Local Government, the Welsh Assembly Government, the Scottish Government, the Planning Officers' Society, the Coal Authority and the Confederation of UK Coal Producers (Coalpro).

This is the fifth year that the survey has been undertaken. As with previous surveys, it contributes to the continuing study of supply and demand patterns and provides a vital input to the monitoring of Government policies for the development of UK coal resources. The collated results are also useful for Mineral Planning Authorities (MPAs) in carrying out their statutory functions, namely the preparation of minerals development plan documents and reaching decisions on planning applications.

The BGS undertook this collation for 2007 in collaboration with the Coal Authority and those Local Planning Authorities which have opencast coal resources in their areas. In addition to dissemination on www.mineralsuk.com (external link) the survey is published in the annual United Kingdom Minerals Yearbook, which is published by the BGS.

The annual survey covered, for individual mineral planning authority areas in England, Scotland and Wales, the following data: saleable production of opencast coal in 2006 and 2007; permitted reserves of opencast coal remaining at operational sites as at 31 December 2006 and 2007; permitted reserves of opencast coal in sites not yet worked as at 31 December 2006 and 2007, details of opencast coal sites which have been granted and refused planning permission during 2007; opencast sites ceasing operations due to the exhaustion of reserves during 2007; and details of opencast production in England, Scotland and Wales between 1985 and 2007.

The opencast coal statistics for 2003-04, 2004-05 and 2005-06 are available to download from BGS (external link).

The findings and recommendations in this report are those of the consultant authors and do not necessarily represent the views or proposed policies of Communities and Local Government.