The Political Cauldron: Imported Coal Sparks Criticism
A fresh political storm has erupted over revelations that British Steel’s Scunthorpe plant will be powered using imported coking coal from Japan. The announcement drew sharp rebuke from Reform UK, led by Nigel Farage, who accused the Labour Government of failing Britain’s industrial backbone.
The party pointed out that importing coal over 17,400 miles by sea was environmentally irrational when domestic coal from Whitehaven, Cumbria could have been transported by rail over just 236 miles. This rhetorical comparison became a rallying cry for those who felt Net Zero policies were overriding industrial logic.
Whitehaven’s Colliery Dreams: Approval, Court Blow & Withdrawal
The West Cumbria Mining project was initially granted planning permission for a £160 million undersea mine off the coast of Whitehaven. The mine was designed to extract high volatile hard coking coal, targeting steel producers as end users.
However, the plan faltered when the High Court overturned the planning approval, forcing a government reassessment. Instead of pressing forward, West Cumbria Mining formally withdrew the application in a letter to the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government.
The Coal Authority, a non-ministerial public body, had previously rejected the coal licence applications, which ultimately derailed the project. Local MP Josh MacAlister clarified that the Government had no role in that licence denial, shielding the Labour Party from direct blame.
Scunthorpe’s Steel Crucible: Parliament Steps In
While the mine saga unfolded, urgent action was needed at British Steel’s Scunthorpe facility, which is owned by the Chinese company Jingye Group. The site risked a complete operational halt due to financial distress.
In an extraordinary session during the Easter recess, MPs returned to Parliament to pass an emergency law that temporarily placed the Scunthorpe plant under government control. This move ensured that the two blast furnaces remained functional, securing thousands of jobs & Britain’s steel output.
However, some politicians & commentators claimed that Whitehaven’s mine could have prevented this crisis—a view that experts quickly disputed.
Why Whitehaven Wouldn't Have Saved British Steel
Labour MP Chris McDonald dismissed the idea that the Whitehaven mine could have “saved the day.” According to him, this belief was not only misleading but also distracting from the actual reforms needed in the steel sector.
McDonald emphasised that the coal from Cumbria had high sulphur content—up to 1.7%—which made it less suitable for UK steelmakers. High sulphur coal can damage the quality of steel, increase operational costs, & violate environmental regulations.
Although Wood Mackenzie, an international consultancy, claimed that the coal could be blended with low-sulphur varieties, McDonald noted two crucial flaws in that reasoning:
1. Most low-sulphur coals (like those from Australia) aren't low enough to offset Cumbria’s coal.
2. UK environmental regulations apply to each coal input—not just the final blend.
Thus, the use of West Cumbria’s coal would have likely breached Scunthorpe’s emissions standards, making it legally unviable.
Coal vs Coke: A Crucial Distinction Ignored
McDonald underscored a technical but critical point: British steelmakers don’t just need coal—they need coke. Coke is made by heating coking coal to extremely high temperatures in the absence of oxygen. The UK, however, has no operational coke ovens left.
This means that any raw coal from Cumbria would have to be exported to foreign coke ovens, processed into coke, then re-imported. Such a process would negate energy independence, add cost, & increase carbon emissions. McDonald called this entire idea “economic nonsense.”
Even if all the logistical hurdles were overcome, coke production itself requires a blend of up to 15 different coal types. Cumbria's high-volatile coal would only represent one part of that complex recipe, reinforcing the UK’s continued dependence on international markets for roughly 90% of coke supply.
The Science of Blending: Why One Coal Type Isn’t Enough
In its planning application, West Cumbria Mining described its coal as “High Vol A Hard Coking Coal” with a sulphur cap of 1.7%. It stated:
“Every coking coal has different physical & chemical properties… Up to 15 different coking coals will be blended to ensure the right steel-grade coke is produced.”
This intricate balancing act is necessary because coking coal varies by ash content, fluidity, dilatation, & sulphur levels. The process requires precision to meet steelmakers’ stringent product specifications. One high-sulphur input like Cumbria’s coal could easily tip the balance unfavourably.
Environmental Constraints & the Green Horizon
The situation is further constrained by UK environmental law, which restricts the sulphur levels not only in the final coal blend but in each individual input.
In such a regulatory environment, any coal with excessive sulphur is hard to use without extensive processing or dilution, both of which are costly & complex. This reality stands in contrast to the nostalgic calls for a return to British coal reliance.
Furthermore, Wood Mackenzie projected that by 2050, the demand for coking coal in Europe would steadily decline as green steelmaking methods, like hydrogen-based furnaces & electric arc processes, slowly replace traditional blast furnaces.
Narratives vs Realities: The Steel Industry's Future
McDonald warned that much of the current debate has been driven by uninformed voices, lacking technical knowledge of how steel is actually made. He insisted that policymakers must focus not on reopening mines, but on modernising UK steel infrastructure.
Instead of clinging to coal, the future lies in innovation, environmental compliance, & international collaboration. Supporting domestic jobs means investing in sustainable practices—not romanticising outdated industrial models.
Key Takeaways
• Reform UK criticised Labour for importing coal from Japan instead of using UK supply.
• West Cumbria Mining planned a £160 million undersea coal mine near Whitehaven.
• The mine was approved, then blocked in court, and later withdrawn by the company.
• Coal licence was rejected by the Coal Authority—not the Labour Government.
• British Steel's Scunthorpe plant faced closure, prompting emergency government intervention.
• Cumbria’s coal had a sulphur content of up to 1.7%, making it unsuitable under UK laws.
• UK environmental regulations restrict sulphur levels in each coal input, not just blends.
• No coke ovens are operational in the UK; coke must be imported from abroad.
• Domestic coal would still need to be exported for coking & then re-imported.
• Steel-grade coke requires blending up to 15 types of coal, not just one from Cumbria.
• Even if the mine had operated, UK would still import 90% of its coke.
• Wood Mackenzie predicts a gradual decline in coking coal demand post-2050.
• The core issue is lack of modern steel infrastructure—not the absence of domestic coal.
