Guest 671- Registered: 4 May 2008
- Posts: 2,095
28 December 2010
14:1786645#1
Hatfield Colliery, UK's first clean coal plant has fallen into administration after failing to raise enough cash to undertake upgrade and expansion plans.
The firm, which employs 380 people, needed to raise £635 million. It also required £30 million to carry out upgrade works to the Hatfield mine.
The financial problems arose after the 51 per cent shareholders, Russia's second largest coal firm KRU, decided it could not afford to put any more funding into the business.
For many years now Russia has been buying up Coal companies and coal stocks, all around the world, 19 companies in the US, underground stocks in UK.
Why are we and the US allowing Russia to dominate our future fuel supplies?
"My New Year's Resolution, is to try and emulate Marek's level of chilled out, thoughtfulness and humour towards other forumites and not lose my decorum"
Guest 690- Registered: 10 Oct 2009
- Posts: 4,150
28 December 2010
14:2486647#2
Sounds a bit like that event back in the early 70s Gary, though I can`t remember exactly what happened. There was a documentary on the tv at the time about it. It involved the world`s wheat output, whereby it was discovered too late of an acute shortage worldwide and that Russia had cornered the market and been snapping up huge stocks. I`m sure someone on here may remember that. Going back to the coal, it was sad that a couple of recent steam special`s over here wound up failing and being cancelled due to poor quality Russian coal. A sad state of affairs when you remember that Kent produced some of the best steam coal around.
Tell them that I came, and no one answered.
Guest 671- Registered: 4 May 2008
- Posts: 2,095
28 December 2010
15:2086661#3
If we continue in the vein of the last 50 years, with both Labour & Conservatives, making counter decisions to destroy each other, instead of working together for the good of this country and everyone in it, we will continue to decline and never be Great again.
Learn from the past, start acting like adults and bring some commonsense back to the table.
"My New Year's Resolution, is to try and emulate Marek's level of chilled out, thoughtfulness and humour towards other forumites and not lose my decorum"
Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
28 December 2010
17:3586673#4
colin,kent coal is no good for steam trains where as welsh coal was exalent for steam engines.besides kent coal being of the soft veriaty was only good for making coke along with other by products.but mixed with tar made briqets for the open fire.
Guest 651- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 5,673
28 December 2010
23:1886715#5
Been nice knowing you :)
Guest 705- Registered: 23 Sep 2010
- Posts: 661
29 December 2010
01:2986723#6
Brian
actually Betteshanger coal was ok for steam use with an excellent calorific value and with skillful firing, clinkering could be avoided-which was a bit of a problem. The comparitively larger grates and fireboxes on the Southern Locomotives were suited to lower grade fuels anyhow. Welsh steam coal of high calorific value was generally used on Western locomotives which had comparatively small fireboxes for the power of machine. Yes indifferent foreign coal has caused problems with steam on the main line,but the skill of the fireman also comes into play here. Also if you go for the cheaper grade(and there is a choice)-you get what you pay for.
Never give up...
29 December 2010
01:4386724#7
Gary - post #3 - couldn't agree more.
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
29 December 2010
08:1186733#8
Sounds like a dangerous game the West are playing. Soon there'll be a monopoly - a Russian one.
Roger
Guest 671- Registered: 4 May 2008
- Posts: 2,095
30 December 2010
10:3486825#9
Thanks Richard your posting is correct and interesting;
Thanks Brian, you also are right, Kent coal was, sorry, is, some of the best coking coal in Europe.
Kent coal was used for steam and at the Power Station, with a high calorific value that was 14 times better than the Notts coal.
,,,,,,,,,,,,,Another fact is that Notts coal seams we're around 10 to 12 ft high, where as Kent's, was 3 to 4 ft high at best................
................It was harder to win our coal..................................
"My New Year's Resolution, is to try and emulate Marek's level of chilled out, thoughtfulness and humour towards other forumites and not lose my decorum"
Brian Dixon- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
30 December 2010
11:1986827#10
garyc,tilmanstone collery had 7 foot seams in its south east district when it was shut down what a waste.
Guest 671- Registered: 4 May 2008
- Posts: 2,095
30 December 2010
13:3686838#11
Brian, I was not aware of that, I always knew Tilmanstone had it easier than us though, lol!!!!!! Just joking
"My New Year's Resolution, is to try and emulate Marek's level of chilled out, thoughtfulness and humour towards other forumites and not lose my decorum"
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
30 December 2010
13:5986839#12
Well it is all coming home now,it was wrong to close the pits in the first place,and as you know I have been saying for some years now we need them open again.
Keith Sansum1
- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,948
30 December 2010
16:2786855#13
I won't get into the rights and wrong's of the colliery closures
but it was always said that British coal was more expensive than other countries coal(presume that's partly because other countries subsidise its coal industry?)
but also the quality of the coal was also better abroad
i'm a novice on this, so many others can contribute
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
Keith Sansum1- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,948
30 December 2010
16:2886856#14
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
30 December 2010
16:3586858#15
at the time of the closures imported coal was cheaper mainly because many countries miners were working for a pittance in dangerous working conditions.
as described earlier in the thread there are different types of coal, many of which suited for different uses.
i can never see the wisdom of relying on other nations for a vital commodity, the price does not stay cheap for long if othe rs know that we
have to import.
Keith Sansum1- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,948
30 December 2010
16:4986860#16
howard
we are reliant n a number of things from other countries sadly
but lets hope at some point the light is seen
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
Brian Dixon- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
30 December 2010
17:2686867#17
kieth,the lights are still out because of cut backs and the green nanny state.
Guest 671- Registered: 4 May 2008
- Posts: 2,095
30 December 2010
17:2786868#18
The point I am making is "will we be paying Russia for supplying us with our own clean coal, as fuel for us in the future"?
As for cost, it's the old chestnut.
Prior to closure, 1000's of people were in employment, not just at the mines but at many other outlets connected to the coal industry. Families had money to spend in local town's villages and communities. Welfare clubs, medical centres, sport, transport, and community spirit were all alive and thriving.
After closure I will leave you to work out the cost.
"My New Year's Resolution, is to try and emulate Marek's level of chilled out, thoughtfulness and humour towards other forumites and not lose my decorum"
Keith Sansum1- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,948
30 December 2010
17:3186869#19
garyc
we have got ourselves in a dilema
and these arguments were well rehearsed it is sad
but now we need to look ahead
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
Guest 698- Registered: 28 May 2010
- Posts: 8,664
30 December 2010
17:3786872#20
A lot of evidence has emerged in recent years that the Soviet Union was actively involved in the destruction of our coal industry. Oleg Gordievsky spilled the beans about Jack Jones and Scargill being on Moscow's payroll years ago. If the Russians now want to finish the job then we have only those two paragons of trade union virtue to thank for it.
I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson
