Region's bid for coal revolution
Sep 29 2008 by Adrian Pearson, The Journal
OUTDATED rules are holding back what is potentially one of the biggest breakthroughs in tackling climate change and stalling a study which could create a new coal industry in the North East, it was claimed last night.
Scientists are pleading with the Government to make a “simple” change in the law and kick-start a new era of clean North East coal.
Experts at Newcastle University are calling on the region’s politicians to take the concerns straight to the heart of Government as they seek to change the way groundbreaking “underground gasification” is controlled.
The university’s Pro-Vice-Chancellor Paul Younger is heading a team which aims to turn North East coal into a gas while still underground.
At the moment the complex process is governed by the Petroleum Act, which means the university is competing against big oil companies for the chance to research coalfields potentially worth billions of pounds.
Since licences are handed out rarely, and at a considerable cost, the chance of the university piloting a scheme are currently limited.
Prof Younger has told MPs a “simple change” in the law would speed up research which will lead to cheaper fuel, increased energy independence and the potential for thousands of jobs.
He wants the law changed so that underground gasification is dealt with under the Coal Act and ruled by the much more welcoming UK Coal Authority.
Prof Younger said: “If this law is not changed it will hold us back by a minimum of five and possibly 10 years or longer.
“It is a simple change, a one sentence change to you or I and yet it is putting this research at risk.
“What we need now from our MPs and from local Government is for them to go to London and get this simple sentence amendment made to say this Petroleum Act does not apply to underground gasification, and then it will unlock the massive potential in the region for safe, green underground gasification and the jobs that would bring.”
Mr Younger said with the change in the law there would be “the chance to restart a type of deep mining in the area and even go much deeper”.
He added: “There is huge potential for the region if we look at the seams in the Northumberland basin or out to sea; there are huge resources there and reserves that still have a future.
“I’m not saying there will be no complications, of course not, there are always complications but we are so close now.”
Mick Henry, leader of Gateshead Council and chair of the Association of North East Councils, has been a passionate supporter of the coal research and is helping to organise the lobbying group calling for change.
Mr Henry said: “There is a real chance for movement here and I believe that if we work together to convince the Government on this we can move forward and see some incredible progress.”
Minister for the North East Nick Brown has said the issue will be dealt with “urgently” to see what help the Government can give.
He said: “This is a very technical issue and we need to look at the detail, but I’m aware of what Prof Younger is working on and I’m always happy to lend him my support.
“I and other North MPs will look at this quickly and see what can be done to help ease the burden of these complex rules.”
Wansbeck MP Denis Murphy has also lent the campaign his support.
“I think the Government is certainly open to hearing from MPs in this region and we will certainly be taking these pleas to them... We have to push ahead with this, we are losing the argument to the green lobby when it comes to coal, we have to get back on track and prove coal can be a green fuel.”
