Scottish Coal Expansion

Scottish Coal Expansion

Jun 23 - Scotsman, The

SCOTTISH Coal has unveiled plans to expand its opencast mining operations and extend its drive into renewable energy in a move that it claims will protect 340 jobs.

The company, which closed its last deep shaft mine two years ago, is lodging plans to extend its Broken Cross mine, south west of Lanark, to cash in on surging demand from the power industry. It is also opening a new, smaller mine nearby.

As part of the group's drive into renewable energy, it is also set to lodge a planning application for a new, 16-turbine windfarm in the area.

Meanwhile, the group also said that it still planned to press ahead with an GBP 80 million redevelopment project it first mooted in 2002, which will see it build a business park, hotel development and retail distribution warehouse on land adjacent to the new mining projects.

The Scottish Coal chairman, Professor Ross Harper, said: "We are already the largest employer in rural South Lanarkshire, employing 212 direct, skilled energy workers and indirectly supporting more than 125 further local jobs through local contractors and businesses.

"Our high quality, low sulphur coal is in steady, high demand and must remain an essential element in Scotland's strategic energy mix if we are to avoid being held to ransom by overseas energy producers."

Scottish Coal still employs more than 1,000 people across the central belt at its mines in Lanarkshire, Ayrshire and Fife and supplies 4.3 million tonnes of coal to the power industry every year.

The extension to the Broken Cross mine, south west of Lanark, should add an extra 4.4 million tonnes of reserves to the company's remaining coal stocks. The smaller mine, which will only be in operation for one year, will produce up to 750,000 tonnes.

Plans for the new windfarm follow the group's drive into renewable energy with a move into producing "biomass" fuels - a hybrid of willow trees and coal that is being introduced into power stations across the country.

Outline plans for the redevelopment project - which the company claims could ultimately create 600 jobs - are likely to be submitted at the end of August.

Previous proposals to build a rally driving course on the site are still in the pipeline, the company said, although will not feature in the initial plans.

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