The UK’s steel industry’s shift towards cleaner electric arc furnaces has reignited calls to scrap the controversial Cumbrian coalmine project, which was approved just last December. With the industry’s reliance on coking coal set to diminish significantly, the economic viability of the proposed mine hangs in the balance.
British Steel’s decision to replace its blast furnaces at Scunthorpe and Tata Steel’s potential closure of its Port Talbot facilities marks a significant turning point in the UK’s steel sector. These moves signal a clear preference for electric arc furnaces, which use 87 times less coal than traditional blast furnaces.
The Cumbrian coal mine, proposed by West Cumbria Mining, was initially intended to supply the UK’s steel industry with coking coal. However, with the industry’s reduced demand for coal, the vast majority of the mine’s output would likely be exported.
MP Tim Farron, representing Westmorland and Lonsdale in Cumbria, emphasized the need for the government to reassess the mine’s approval in light of these developments. He stated, “We need to see the government wake up to the fact that the steel industry is now going full steam ahead to decarbonize steel and start to invest in long-term renewable jobs for the future.”
Environmental groups have also voiced their concerns, with Friends of the Earth’s coal campaigner Tony Bosworth stating, “Michael Gove’s justification for approving the mine last December was largely that the steel industry would need coking coal for decades to come. But it now seems the UK market will soon disappear.”
While some Conservative MPs, including Mark Jenkinson, support the mine’s development, citing the potential for local jobs and reduced reliance on imported coal, the industry’s shift towards greener technologies overshadows the project’s viability.
The Cumbrian coalmine’s future remains uncertain, with the decision ultimately resting with the government. As the UK’s steel industry embraces cleaner technologies, the mine’s economic case becomes increasingly questionable. The government must carefully weigh the potential benefits against the environmental and economic implications before deciding.