Drilling delay puts back pit decision
Harworth-based UK COAL is looking to carry out a survey of the area to decide on the feasibility of reopening the pit.
But a delay in acquiring the drilling rig has meant work on the first of three bore holes will now not take place until December, with the other two being carried out in January and February next year.
Company spokesman Stuart Oliver said: “There has been a delay in getting the drilling rig on site to drill the bore holes to intercept the Top Hard coal seam which will be accessed from the Harworth Colliery site.
“The rig has been working in a programme in North Yorkshire and has only just become available.”
A dramatic rise in energy prices fuelled interest in the possible reopening of the pit earlier this year, following its mothballing in 2006.
The cost of reopening the pit is said to be around £150 million and UK COAL wants to access the Top Hard seam which contains some 40 million tonnes of coal.
Mr Oliver said the company was currently in the process of trying to establish financial support from the project which would throw a lifeline to some 400 jobs.
He said: “The scheme itself looks very decent. The big issue is how funding can be achieved under sensible arrangements.”
Mr Oliver said although the current financial crisis had caused a certain amount of uncertainty, coal prices were still fetching much more per tonne than when the pit was mothballed.
Back in 2006 coal was fetching £34 per tone, today prices are £50 per tonne.
“Whilst we are disappointed that prices have fallen back from record high levels, at £50 a tonne it is substantially higher than when Harworth was last producing,” said Mr Oliver.
If Harworth Colliery is reopened it is expected the first influx of workers from Welbeck Colliery will be brought in when production at Welbeck ends next year.
UK COAL said until the bore hole information is gained the Harworth Colliery shafts and pit bottom will be kept on a care and maintenance regime.
From this is retford
