September 5, 2021 - An inquiry into a planning application for a new coal mine in Cumbria, UK is set to begin this coming week.

The planning inspectorate is set to hold an inquiry into West Cumbria Mining’s application for a coking coal mine off the coast of Whitehaven.

The mine in Cumbria would be UK's first deep coal mine in 30 years

Image: West Cumbria Mining Company

Their inquiry begins on September 7 and will feature a number of speakers both for and against the mine.

MP for Copeland Trudy Harrison is set to support the Woodhouse Colliery mine.

She believes the ability to produce coking coal necessary for steel in the UK offsets the impact on the environment from importing it in.

Friends of the Earth will be one of the parties opposing the application.

They believe the prospect of a new coal mine in the undermines the government’s credibility on the climate crisis.

Coking coal, also known as metallurgical coal, is used exclusively as an essential ingredient for steel production, West Cumbria Mining (WCM) says.

It adds: "The coal is ‘baked’ in a coke oven which forces out impurities to produce coke, which is a form of almost pure carbon.

"Modern steel plants, the likes of which are predominantly found in the UK and Europe, include extensive gas treatment and capture to significantly reduce emissions.

"The steel that is produced is used in all of our daily lives in a wide range of domestic uses (e.g. cars, kettles, trains) as well as in the manufacture of wind turbines and nuclear power stations, key alternatives to historical coal-powered energy generation."