Ffos-y-Fran
Ffos-y-Fran opencast coal mine near Merthyr Tydfil will be the biggest opencast in the UK, and one of the biggest coal mines Wales has ever seen. It is a climate disaster waiting to happen - Miller-Argent, the company running the scheme, want to dig up coal which, when burnt, will produce about 30 million tonnes of CO2 every year.
Local people have been opposing the mine for years. More than 10,000 signed a petition opposing the mine - not surprising given that it will mean coal dust, noise, and a 200 metre deep pit as little as 35 metres from local homes. Despite this amazing level of opposition, the Welsh Assembly Government, encouraged by Westminster, gave the go-ahead.
Since November last year campaigners have been helping local residents make some noise about the mine - engaging in civil disobedience on site. The mine has been closed down twice, bringing public and media attention to the issue, and supporting the local campaign with rallies and meetings in Merthyr and Cardiff.
It’s an empowering and fun campaign, working with local residents and using creative protest to clearly send the message that the coal under Merthyr should be left there.
- If you’d like to get involved, visit the Stop Ffos-y-Fran website
- Or read the Campaign Blog
- More information about Ffos-y-Fran
Facts & Figures
Miller Argent will excavate 1000 acres of land to a depth of 600 feet (180 metres), almost as high as Canary Wharf. After removing 123 million cubic metres of rock, they’ll be mining 10.8 million tonnes of coal, which when burned turns into 30 million tonnes of CO2.
The mine is only 36 metres from the nearest homes. In England and Scotland there is a mandatory 500m buffer zone from the nearest dwellings, Scotland are now consulting on a 1000m buffer zone because of noise and dust issues affecting health.
Miller Argent will be digging and blasting for at least 15 years from 7am to 11pm, followed by 2 years of “restoration work”. There will be around 22 blasts a week, up to 70 decibels, to put this in context the World Health Organisation identifies 57 decibels as causing “serious annoyance”. There have been numerous petitions circulated by local protest groups, the largest of which raised 10,000 signatures.
The estimated cost of the reclamation of the land is between £6-20m, 80% of this money was available under EU funding. At current market prices, Miller Argent will recoup approximately £1bn from the scheme - £6m (or less than 1%) of which it says it will give to Merthyr Council.
