Coal Preparation Projects in the UK (NOVEMBER 1979)

Reconstruction of the British mining industry began shortly after nationalization in 1947 and continued until well into the 1950s with the support of the government. This support diminished as plentiful supplies of cheap oil from the Middle East made many coal mines uneconomic. The planned rundown which followed was foreshadowed in the 1965 White Paper which outlined financial measures to speed the closure of uneconomic collieries. The decline appeared likely to continue into the 21st century as the role of coal in UK energy requirements became less and less significant. This policy was well on course in 1973 when the oil crisis led to a complete reappraisal of the position. A government examination in 1974 of the coal industry then supported the National Coal Board's general strategy of major capital investment as set out in its 'Plan for Coal'. The plan was aimed at halting the intended decline in the industry's capacity and restoring it to 120 million tons of deep mined output in 1985. The plan proposed action along the following lines: Increase output by major investment in construction at existing collieries with sufficient reserves to give 13 million tons per annum extra output.