Proponents of her case have been working to make the actual transcript of this statement available online. Proponents of her case have been working to make the actual transcript of this statement available online. They also say it could reduce its dependence on Russian coking coal in the wake of the invasion of Ukraine. However, influential executives in the steel industry are increasingly frustrated with the claims – with the two domestic steelmakers considered unlikely to be significant customers for the coal mine. Chris McDonald, managing director of the Materials Processing Institute, which operates the UK’s national steel research center, said there was no demand from his industry for the West Cumbria mine. “There is a frustration when I hear other industries speak on behalf of the steel industry, when the steel industry itself has not come out to say it wants this mine,” he told the Observer. “I will say that there is no demand for it. The case for the mine is built around the need for UK coking coal for the UK steel industry. This is what the coal industry is doing. But this does not suit the needs of the steel industry. “There are only two potential customers for this coal in the UK: Tata Steel and British Steel. British Steel said it could not use coal from the mine because sulfur levels were too high. Tata Steel has said if carbon was available, then it may or may not use a small amount. “There is no one in the steel industry to ask for the mine.” The Woodhouse Colliery was originally approved by councilors in 2020. However, ministers stepped in and launched an investigation following opposition to the project, which escalated ahead of the Cop26 climate conference in Glasgow last year. Michael Gove is set to decide whether to approve the mine by July. Recent reports indicate that he is willing to do so, although his department has stated that no decision has been made. West Cumbria Mining (WCM) said the plan would create 530 permanent jobs, with 80% going to locals. A miner holds a handful of coal at the Lodge House surface coal mine in Ilkeston, Derbyshire. Photo: Chris Ratcliffe / Bloomberg / Getty Images McDonald, who also chairs the UK Metal Council, disputed claims that the mine would reduce its dependence on Russian energy imports. Mike Starkie, the conservative mayor of Copeland, which includes the proposed site of the Whitehaven mine, said the invasion of Ukraine “showed why we need so much more autonomy for all our natural resources”. Local MP Trudy Harrison said the UK “usually” imports coking coal from Russia. McDonald’s denied the claim. “I think it is important to be clear that even if this mine opens tomorrow, it will not displace a single ton of Russian coking coal from the UK – and I can say that with confidence,” he said. “Tata Steel no longer uses Russian coking coal. British Steel said it could not use coal from Cumbria. Therefore, there is no possibility of displacing any Russian imports. “We have all the big players in the European steel industry, with plans to gradually reduce their dependence on coking coal from 2030 onwards. If the mine is approved tomorrow, I think it would not open until 2026 or something like that. Therefore, it is unlikely to have a very long lifespan in this regard. There may be some other base or some other case that someone makes for the mine. In my opinion, as someone who has been working in the steel industry for 20 years and is very concerned with the future of steel technology, there is no demand from the steel industry for the mine. “Apart from the environmental arguments, I think they have lost the boat in the market, in fact.” Sources at Tata Steel agreed with McDonald’s, although the company has not commented publicly on the mine. British Steel declined to comment. WCM contacted for comments, but did not respond until publication.
