# UK Coal

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/UK_Coal
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/UK_Coal.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UK_Coal
> Source revision: 1355522519
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

Private mining firm in the United Kingdom

UK Coal Production Ltd Type Private Industry Coal mining, Renewable energy and Real estate Defunct 18 December 2015 (2015-12-18) Key people Kevin McCullough (Chief Executive) Revenue £316.0 million (2009) Operating income £82.7 million (2007) Net income £94.0 million (2007) Number of employees 2,000 (2013)[1]

Daw Mill Colliery, [Warwickshire](/source/Warwickshire), England

[Kellingley Colliery](/source/Kellingley_Colliery) laid in both [North](/source/North_Yorkshire) and [West Yorkshire](/source/West_Yorkshire).

**UK Coal Production Ltd**, formerly **UK Coal plc**, was the largest [coal](/source/Coal) mining business in the United Kingdom. The company was based in [Harworth](/source/Harworth), in [Nottinghamshire](/source/Nottinghamshire). The company was a constituent of the [FTSE 250 Index](/source/FTSE_250_Index). The successor company that contains the former property division, [Harworth Group](/source/Harworth_Group), is still listed on the [London Stock Exchange](/source/London_Stock_Exchange).

## History

The predecessor company of UK Coal was founded by [Richard J. Budge](/source/Richard_Budge) in 1974 as *RJB Mining*. In 1994, following the [privatisation](/source/Privatisation) of the UK mining industry, it grew fivefold with the acquisition of [British Coal](/source/British_Coal)'s core activities.[2] It changed its name to UK Coal in 2001 after the retirement of its founder, having acquired UK Coal plc.[3]

## Former operations

At year end 2008, the company estimated coal reserves and resources of 105 Mt at the mines, of which 45 Mt was accessible under existing five year mining and investment plans.[4] Its most important customers were electricity generators.[5]

In 2010 the company proposed a series of developments, mainly [open-cast mining](/source/Open-cast_mining), including the *Minorca mine project* development in [Measham](/source/Measham), [Leicestershire](/source/Leicestershire).[6] However, UK Coal exited surface mining in late 2014,[7] so these plans did not materialise.

In 2012, UK Coal were fined £200,000 after pleading guilty to breaching health and safety laws after a death of a miner at [Kellingley Colliery](/source/Kellingley_Colliery).[8] One deep mine, the [Welbeck](/source/Welbeck) colliery, in [Nottinghamshire](/source/Nottinghamshire) closed in 2011 after continuous production since 1912.[9] Another deep mine, [Daw Mill](/source/Daw_Mill) at Furnace End, Warwickshire, closed in 2013 after an underground fire damaged much of the facilities.

On 10 April 2014, Reuters reported that the British government was to give UK Coal a £10 million loan to help fund the closure of its two remaining deep mines. The company will carry out a managed closure of the deep mines by Autumn 2015 and will seek a buyer for its surface mines.[*[needs update](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Manual_of_Style/Dates_and_numbers#Chronological_items)*] UK Coal's difficulties were precipitated by a flood of U.S. coal on to the market, as a result of [shale gas](/source/Shale_gas) development, and by the strength of sterling.[10]

[Thoresby Colliery](/source/Thoresby_Colliery) was closed in July 2015, while [Kellingley Colliery](/source/Kellingley_Colliery) ceased production on 18 December 2015,[11] with ownership to be transferred to Harworth Estates for future redevelopment.[12]

### Former opencast mining operations

See also: [Open-pit coal mining in the United Kingdom](/source/Open-pit_coal_mining_in_the_United_Kingdom)

Three surface mines in North East England were owned by UK Coal Surface Mines Limited (company number 08492512) which went into administration on 14 November 2014. The business was then sold to UKCSMR Limited (company number 09275881). The three surface mines are Butterwell and Potland Burn in Northumberland and Park Wall North in County Durham.[7][13]

### Former renewable energy and gas operations

The company moved into renewable energy, expanding into [wind farms](/source/Wind_farm), which is helped by a large land bank and the desire to diversify into energy activities beyond coal. Wind power offers financial incentives such as [Renewables Obligation Certificates](/source/United_Kingdom_Climate_Change_Programme). UK Coal, through its Harworth Power subsidiary, engaged in [mine gas](/source/Firedamp) recovery, to generate electricity.[14]

Harworth Power was sold on 1 October 2012 to Red Rose Infrastructure Limited for £20.30 million.[15] At the time of the sale, it operated 14 [gas engines](/source/Gas_engine) of 26 MW generation capacity supplying electricity to UK Coal and the National Grid.[15]

### Restructuring

On 12 December 2012 UK Coal plc completed[16] a complex financial restructuring of the company to secure its future and changed its name to Coalfield Resources plc.[17][18] The company's operations were restructured into two separate businesses: the mining division (under UK Coal Mine Holdings Limited) and the property division (under Harworth Estates Property Group Limited).

Control of the mining division had passed to an [employee benefit trust](/source/Employee_benefit_trust) ("EBT"), which initially held shares representing 67% of the voting and 10% of the economic rights in UK Coal Mine Holdings for the benefit of current and future employees of the mining division. Coalfield Resources initially retained the remainder of UK Coal Mine Holdings's economic and voting rights, but the shareholdings rank [behind pension fund debt](/source/Preferential_creditor).[16] On 9 July 2013, following a devastating fire, their largest mine, [Daw Mill](/source/Daw_Mill), was forced into closure. As a direct result both UK Coal Mine Holdings Ltd (UKCMHL) and UK Coal Operations Ltd (UKCOL) were put into administration.[19] The remaining mining operations were again restructured, resulting in the formation of a new business "UK Coal Production Ltd".[20]

The successor of Coalfield Resources, Harworth Group, had no equity interest in the mining business by the time the last two mines were closed in 2015.[21] Harworth Group initially (in 2012) owned 24.9% of Harworth Estates Property Group, with 75.1% having passed to EBT in return for a £30 million cash injection and their financial support to the mines. However, in November 2014 Coalfield Resources announced that it had agreed terms with the [Pension Protection Fund](/source/Pension_Protection_Fund) to buy back the 75.1% of Harworth Estates Property Group it did not already own and to change the name of the company to Harworth Group plc. This transaction was completed on 24 March 2015.[21]

## Current operations

The company is no longer active in mining. On 18 December 2015 the company closed its last deep mine located in Yorkshire, at [Kellingley](/source/Kellingley_Colliery).[11] Surface mines were sold to UKCSMR Limited in late 2014.[7] Coal extraction declined from 37.1 million tonnes in 1995 to around 7 million tonnes in 2009.[22]

Only the former property division operates as the successor company Harworth Estates (wholly owned by the Harworth Group).

At the end of 2007, Harworth Estates' land was estimated to be worth £411 million.[22] The estate assets are primarily in business parks, industrial sites and agriculture, with a smaller portfolio of residential property (residential assets associated with agricultural properties). Harworth Estates manage, develop and regenerate their extensive portfolio of land totalling over 30,000 acres (12,000 ha).[23]

Harworth Estates is now wholly owned by the Harworth Group, which had divested its equity interest in the mining operations before the restructuring of March 2015.

## See also

- [Energy portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Energy)

- [Coal mining in the United Kingdom](/source/Coal_mining_in_the_United_Kingdom)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["At a glance"](https://web.archive.org/web/20170613083114/http://www.ukcoal.com/at-a-glance.html). UK Coal. Archived from [the original](http://www.ukcoal.com/at-a-glance.html) on 13 June 2017. Retrieved 29 November 2013.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** [UK Coal: History](http://www.ukcoal.com/company-history) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20090512082254/http://www.ukcoal.com/company-history) 12 May 2009 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Moore, James (20 July 2016). ["Richard Budge - dubbed "King Coal" after buying British Coal from the Government - has died aged 69"](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/analysis-and-features/richard-budge-dubbed-old-king-coal-after-buying-british-coal-from-the-government-has-died-aged-69-a7146856.html). *The Independent*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20191215074019/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/analysis-and-features/richard-budge-dubbed-old-king-coal-after-buying-british-coal-from-the-government-has-died-aged-69-a7146856.html) from the original on 15 December 2019. Retrieved 15 December 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["UK Coal Annual report 2008, page 24"](http://ukcoal.annualreport2008.com/Doc/pdf/AnnualReport2008.pdf) (PDF). *annualreport2008.com*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20110831202939/http://ukcoal.annualreport2008.com/Doc/pdf/AnnualReport2008.pdf) (PDF) from the original on 31 August 2011. Retrieved 12 April 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["UK Coal Annual report 2008, page 19"](http://ukcoal.annualreport2008.com/Doc/pdf/AnnualReport2008.pdf) (PDF). *annualreport2008.com*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20110831202939/http://ukcoal.annualreport2008.com/Doc/pdf/AnnualReport2008.pdf) (PDF) from the original on 31 August 2011. Retrieved 12 April 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Minorca Opencast Protest Group"](https://mopg.co.uk/). Minorca Opencast Protest Group. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20100223014222/http://www.mopg.co.uk/) from the original on 23 February 2010. Retrieved 15 August 2010.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-thejournal.co.uk_7-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-thejournal.co.uk_7-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-thejournal.co.uk_7-2) Ford, Coreena (20 November 2014). ["Pre-pack deal saves nearly 300 jobs at UK Coal Surface Mines Ltd"](https://web.archive.org/web/20141202041621/http://www.thejournal.co.uk/business/business-news/pre-pack-saves-nearly-300-jobs-8141306). *thejournal.co.uk*. Archived from [the original](http://www.thejournal.co.uk/business/business-news/pre-pack-saves-nearly-300-jobs-8141306) on 2 December 2014. Retrieved 12 December 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["UK Coal fined over miner Ian Cameron's death"](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-18891350). *BBC News*. 18 July 2012. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20150925215407/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-18891350) from the original on 25 September 2015. Retrieved 10 April 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Welbeck Colliery"](http://www.ukcoal.com/dm-welbeck). UK coal. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20111209091716/http://www.ukcoal.com/dm-welbeck) from the original on 9 December 2011. Retrieved 22 December 2011.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["Britain to give UK Coal 10 mln stg loan to fund mine closures"](https://web.archive.org/web/20160305182109/http://uk.reuters.com/article/britain-ukcoal-idUKL6N0N224M20140410). *Reuters*. 10 April 2014. Archived from [the original](http://uk.reuters.com/article/britain-ukcoal-idUKL6N0N224M20140410) on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 10 April 2014.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-scotsman.com_11-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-scotsman.com_11-1) Flanagan, Martin (11 July 2015). "Closure leaves just one UK pit". *The Scotsman*. No. 52, 745. p. 27. [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0307-5850](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0307-5850).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["Kellingley mining machines buried in last deep pit"](https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-35063853). *BBC News*. 18 December 2015. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20151221031115/http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-35063853) from the original on 21 December 2015. Retrieved 18 December 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** ["UK Coal Surface Mines Limited"](https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/08492512). [Companies House](/source/Companies_House). Retrieved 19 August 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** ["UK Coal: the Company"](https://web.archive.org/web/20090214064031/http://www.ukcoal.com/re-the-company). Archived from [the original](http://www.ukcoal.com/re-the-company) on 14 February 2009.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-harworthestates1_15-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-harworthestates1_15-1) ["Announcement of sale of issued share capital"](https://web.archive.org/web/20121125052528/http://www.harworthestates.co.uk/business-sectors/harworth-power). *www.harworthestates.co.uk*. Archived from [the original](http://www.harworthestates.co.uk/business-sectors/harworth-power) on 25 November 2012.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-hemscottir1_16-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-hemscottir1_16-1) ["UK Coal PLC – Completion of Restructuring"](http://online.hemscottir.com/ir/ukc_new1/ir.jsp?page=news-item&item=1234362863477032). Hemscottir. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20131203015906/http://online.hemscottir.com/ir/ukc_new1/ir.jsp?page=news-item&item=1234362863477032) from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 10 April 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** ["Completion of Restructuring"](https://web.archive.org/web/20140413143820/http://coalfieldresources.com/latest-news/news/Completion_of_restructuring). *Latest news*. Coalfield Resources. Archived from [the original](http://coalfieldresources.com/latest-news/news/Completion_of_restructuring) on 13 April 2014. Retrieved 10 April 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** ["UK Coal plc – Confirmation of name change to Coalfield Resources"](https://web.archive.org/web/20140413145045/http://online.hemscottir.com/ir/ukc_new1/ir.jsp?page=news-item&item=1234362863478623). Hemscottir. 10 December 2012. Archived from [the original](http://online.hemscottir.com/ir/ukc_new1/ir.jsp?page=news-item&item=1234362863478623) on 13 April 2014. Retrieved 10 April 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-19)** ["Restructuring preserves 2,000 jobs"](http://www.ukcoal.com/1/post/2013/07/uk-coal-restructuring-preserves-2000-jobs.html). UK Coal. July 2013. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20140407082913/http://www.ukcoal.com/1/post/2013/07/uk-coal-restructuring-preserves-2000-jobs.html) from the original on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 10 April 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-20)** ["At a glance"](https://web.archive.org/web/20170613083114/http://www.ukcoal.com/at-a-glance.html). UK Coal. 9 July 2013. Archived from [the original](http://www.ukcoal.com/at-a-glance.html) on 13 June 2017. Retrieved 10 April 2014.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-At_a_glance_21-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-At_a_glance_21-1) ["At a glance"](http://harworthgroup.com/about/at-a-glance/). Harworth Group. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20151222163634/http://harworthgroup.com/about/at-a-glance/) from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 17 December 2015.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-info_22-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-info_22-1) [UK Coal: Company information](http://www.ukcoal.com/company-information) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20081021034118/http://www.ukcoal.com/company-information) 21 October 2008 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-23)** hello@inkandwater.co.uk. ["Harworth Estates"](http://www.harworthestates.co.uk/). Harworthestates.co.uk. Retrieved 10 April 2014.

## External links

- [Website archived on 9 November 2015](https://web.archive.org/web/20151109214532/http://ukcoal.com/)

- [Harworth Estates](http://www.harworthestates.co.uk/)

v t e Energy in the United Kingdom Companies Coal Anglo American BHP ENRC GCM Resources Glencore Rio Tinto UK Coal Oil and gas Integrated BP Shell Exploration and production Afren BHP Capricorn Energy Centrica Dana Petroleum Desire Petroleum Emerald Energy EnQuest Essar Energy Harbour Energy Hardy Oil and Gas JKX Oil & Gas Melrose Resources Ophir Energy Perenco Pharos Energy Regal Petroleum Rockhopper Exploration Star Energy Tullow Oil Supply Greenergy Murco Support Abbot Group Amec Foster Wheeler Expro Hunting John Wood Group Petrofac Qserv Weir Group WesternGeco1 Utilities Integrated Centrica E.ON UK1 EDF Energy1 Npower1 ScottishPower1 SSE Generation and supply Generation Drax Group Engie Energy International Horizon Nuclear Power1 Renantis Vattenfall UK1 Vedanta Resources Supply 100Green Bristol Energy Co-op Energy Ecotricity ESB Group Firmus Energy Good Energy Octopus Energy Opus Energy Outfox the Market OVO Energy Phoenix Natural Gas Shell Energy TotalEnergies Gas & Power Utilita Energy Utility Warehouse Distribution Electricity Electricity North West1 Northern Powergrid1 Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks SP Energy Networks1 UK Power Networks1 Western Power Distribution1 Gas Cadent Gas Firmus Energy Northern Gas Networks Phoenix Natural Gas SGN Wales & West Utilities1 Transmission Electricity National Grid2 Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission SP Energy Networks1 Gas National Grid Other Aggreko APX Group Aquamarine Power EnServe Hi-Gen Power Mark Group United Downs Deep Geothermal Power Wavegen Companies with headquarters and/or registered office in the UK but no applicable energy operations within the country shown in italics 1Ultimate parent company is not UK-based 2Integrated in the United States, no generation or supply activities in the UK Energy sources Coal Coal Authority Coal-fired power stations Coal mines Coal mining regions Confederation of UK Coal Producers Greenhouse gas emissions History miners' strike National Coal Board Open-pit coal mining Electricity Association of Electricity Producers BritNed East–West Interconnector Economy 7 Economy 10 Electricity billing Energy switching services Green electricity Grid Trade Master Agreement Gridlink Interconnector HVDC Cross-Channel Isle of Man to England Interconnector Moyle Interconnector National Grid Control Reserve Service New Electricity Trading Arrangements North Sea Link Power stations Timeline of the electricity supply industry Nuclear Advanced Gas-cooled Reactor Franco-British Nuclear Forum Magnox Nuclear Decommissioning Authority Nuclear Liabilities Fund Nuclear power stations Office for Nuclear Regulation Sellafield United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority United Kingdom National Nuclear Laboratory Oil and gas BBL Pipeline Dash for Gas Forties pipeline system Fuel protests Gas infrastructure Greenhouse gas emissions Hydrocarbon Oil Duty National Transmission System Natural gas fields Natural gas-fired power stations North Sea oil North Sea Transition Authority Offshore Energies UK Oil fields Oil-fired power stations Oil infrastructure Oil refineries Petroleum Revenue Tax Renewables Biofuels Biofuel power stations NNFCC Renewable Fuels Agency Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation Geothermal Geothermal power stations Hydroelectricity Hydroelectric power stations Mersey Barrage Severn Barrage Wave farms Solar power Wind power Offshore wind power List of offshore wind farms List of onshore wind farms North Seas Energy Cooperation Wind power in Scotland Government and regulation Organisations Carbon Trust Cenex Climate Change Committee Department for Energy Security and Net Zero Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Energy Saving Trust Environment Agency Office of Gas and Electricity Markets National Energy System Operator System Operator for Northern Ireland Great British Energy Great British Energy – Nuclear Historic organisations Area gas boards Area electricity boards British Electricity Authority Central Electricity Board Central Electricity Generating Board Electricity Commissioners Electricity Council Gas Council Legislation and initiatives Carbon Emission Reduction Target Climate Change Act 2008 Climate Change Agreement Climate Change and Sustainable Energy Act 2006 Climate Change Levy CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme Decarbonisation measures in proposed UK electricity market reform Display Energy Certificate Energy Act 2013 Energy performance certificate Fossil Fuel Levy Low Carbon Building Programme Non-Fossil Fuel Obligation Planning Act 2008 Renewable Heat Incentive Renewables Obligation United Kingdom Climate Change Programme Energy price cap Energy Profits Levy Non-governmental organisations Charities and pressure groups Ashden Award Bioregional Campaign against Climate Change Centre for Alternative Technology National Energy Action Stop Climate Chaos Tyndall Centre Industry bodies Association for Decentralised Energy Energy Institute Energy Networks Association Green Power Forum RenewableUK Utilities Intermediaries Association Research Centre for Renewable Energy Systems Technology Energy Technologies Institute Met Office Hadley Centre Narec Oil Depletion Analysis Centre Sunbury Research Centre UK Energy Research Centre Energy conservation British Energy Efficiency Federation Close the Door campaign Code for Sustainable Homes Double Glazing & Conservatory Ombudsman Scheme EcoHomes Energy efficiency in British housing Energy Saving Trust Energy Saving Trust Recommended Greenhouse gas emissions HTB National Home Energy Rating Category

Authority control databases International ISNI VIAF National United States

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [UK Coal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UK_Coal) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UK_Coal?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.