Coal Reserves

HC Deb 06 November 1975 vol 899 cc314-5W

Mr. Skeet

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will give an estimate of the tonnage of physically workable coal in the United Kingdom, down to a depth of 1,200 metres, available or likely to become available.

Mr. Eadie

The total amount of physically workable coal in the United Kingdom excluding Northern Ireland is estimated at around 97,000 million tons. This figure includes all coal seams of at least 24 inches thickness down to a depth of 4,000 feet.

Mr. Skeet

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will give an estimate of the reserves of coal available in existing collieries in the United Kingdom.

Mr. Eadie

The latest estimate of economically workable coal reserves at existing collieries is some 3,400 million tons.

Mr. Skeet

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will give an estimate of coal reserves available in existing collieries in both approved and planned developments in the United Kingdom.

Mr. Eadie

Economically workable reserves at existing collieries have been estimated at some 3,400 million tons. In addition, the current exploration programme has proved some 400–500 million tons economically workable reserves at potential new mine sites in the United Kingdom.

Mr. Skeet

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will give an estimate of the coal reserves available in existing potential opencast sites in the United Kingdom.

Mr. Eadie

The figures for reserves of opencast coal which may be quoted at any time depend on the current view of what coal is technically, economically, and environmentally workable. Tonnage remaining at sites currently being worked amounts to some 31 million tons. In addition, fully and partly proved reserves and estimated further potential reserves of opencast coal amount to a figure in excess of 400 million tons. These reserves are sufficient to enable production at the target rate of 15 million tons a year set by the Coal Industry Examination to continue past the end of the century, provided that the necessary authorisations to work are available.