Mining/Fracking - old and new

As a country we should be exploiting all forms of energy production including Nuclear Coal Oil Solar and Tidal.  

We have the capability to generate our own without importing foreign raw materials. 

We have to look after our own citizens first and foremost. The Misguided Global Warming brigade is spoiling this country's ability to be self sufficient.

K

We need a mix of energy supplies. Fraking is new, but once coal minining, wind turbines etc were new. This nonsense about not allowing it in a National Park is just more scare mongering. Im all for it and as someone living in a NatPark, if thats where the shale is get going. I bet the majority of those like us who actually live in a Nat Park as fed up with the interfeering outsiders telling us what to do and not do.

What I find incredible is that imported coal is 'so' much cheaper than UK coal even after the transport costs of moving such a bulky commodity. I'm not sure that mothballing wouldn't have been a better solution and that we've been a bit short-sighted.

Fracking isn't new it's been in use since the 1940's and we were fracking in the North Sea from the 1970's

My concern is that with the closure of "Big K" the supporting industries and skills base will vanish forever.Should a decision to reverse current energy policy ever be required( Natiional Emergency/War) our reserves of coal would be difficult/costly to extract because the skills and supporting engineering industries will no longer be available in the UK.There has been little consideration given to gasification of reserves underground - something,which I understand is being piloted in Poland.CJ may have a view on this as it is within his area of expertise.I fear that the UK Government are again making decisions in the short term for expediency reasons and closing off long term options in the process.

I think we have people from the UK involved in mining all over the world so the skills could be re-deployed. I think the mining techniques will probably change too as in many other industries. It is sad to see the end of this part of the industrial revolution, the steel industry has suffered too, but there will always be new developments. At least we haven't mined out all of our stocks for future generations to use if needed. 

My concern is that with the closure of "Big K" the supporting industries and skills base will vanish forever.Should a decision to reverse current energy policy ever be required( Natiional Emergency/War) our reserves of coal would be difficult/costly to extract because the skills and supporting engineering industries will no longer be available in the UK.There has been little consideration given to gasification of reserves underground - something,which I understand is being piloted in Poland.CJ may have a view on this as it is within his area of expertise.I fear that the UK Government are again making decisions in the short term for expediency reasons and closing off long term options in the process.

Again some misinformation, we have been storing gas underground for years at Hornsea and in the Nortwest of England.  I was responsible in the 1980's for preparing sites for drilling to enable gas cavity storage.  If you drive north of Hornsea on the cost road you will see what we in the industry call Christmas trees in fields alongside the road, by and large that is all you see.

What I find incredible is that imported coal is 'so' much cheaper than UK coal even after the transport costs of moving such a bulky commodity. I'm not sure that mothballing wouldn't have been a better solution and that we've been a bit short-sighted.

Write your comments here...I don't think that "mothballing" a mine is as easy as you think. It takes quite a large team to keep a pit ready for action.

One, I live above the Gas caverns

One, I live above the Gas caverns

Write your comments here...are you saying one person can keep a mine ready for action?