UK Moves to Ban New Coal Mines in Push for Clean Energy

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London: On Thursday, the UK government announced plans to introduce legislation aimed at banning new coal mines, marking a significant step in its commitment to becoming a leader in clean energy.

The government stated it would present the new law to limit future licensing of coal mines "as soon as possible," calling it a "crucial step" in the fight against climate change.

Environmental organizations welcomed the announcement, which follows the closure of the last coal-fired power station in the UK, Ratcliffe-on-Soar, in October. This milestone makes the UK the first G7 nation to eliminate its dependence on coal for electricity generation.

In a pivotal ruling last September, British courts revoked a permit granted by the previous Conservative administration for a coal mine project in Whitehaven, Cumbria. This project had been set to become the first new coal mine in the UK in three decades, intended to extract metallurgical coal exclusively for steel production.

Energy Minister Michael Shanks emphasized that "consigning coal power to the past" would lead to a cleaner, more secure energy system, benefiting consumers and fostering the creation of skilled jobs.

Tony Bosworth, a climate campaigner with Friends of the Earth, hailed the decision as "great news," asserting that it should finally put coal mining into the history books.