Green steel moves highlight folly of Cumbrian coal mine approval, says Friends of the Earth
Government moves to help the UK steel industry become greener cast further doubts on the viability of a new coal mine in Cumbria, says Friends of the Earth.
Ministers are reportedly in the process of offering around £600 million to help both British Steel and Tata Steel switch away from coal-fired blast furnaces.
Last month Michael Gove gave government approval to a controversial new mine in Cumbria to provide coal for the steel industry, saying “we will need coking coal for decades to come.”
Earlier this month Friends of the Earth announced it was taking legal action against the government over its decision to approve the mine.
Friends of the Earth energy campaigner, Tony Bosworth, said:“The UK steel industry is vital for our future, but the only way to ensure we have a competitive and thriving steel sector is for it to go green and move away from coal, as its European competitors are doing.
“The government is right to support the steel industry in this essential transformation – but it again shows the ridiculous folly of approving a new mine to provide coal for the steel industry just last month.”
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