An opencast coal mine near Oakley could have a new owner within a matter of days, The Courier can reveal.
Scottish Resources Group (SRG), Scottish Coal’s parent company, is in advanced talks with UK Coal to buy the Blair House site which has an estimated 720,000 tonnes of coal reserves.
Members of the Black Wood Solidarity Group set up an encampment near the site and threatened to disrupt mining operations, arguing it would affect people’s health and contribute to global warming as the coal was burned at nearby Longannet power station.
The protesters left after occupying the wood for more than a week when UK Coal took legal action to have them evicted. The company then announced it was to put the mine on the market.
It has emerged SRG, based at the former Castlebridge colliery near Alloa, is the leading contender to purchase Blair House.
SRG declined to comment when asked about the proposed deal.
UK Coal revealed it was close to clinching the sale when it revealed its latest financial results last week. In a statement the company confirmed it made a £94 million loss in the first half of this year, compared with £81.5 million last year. It has debts of around £255 million.
A spokesman for UK Coal told The Courier he could not comment on who the prospective buyer was.
He added, “We stated recently that we hoped the sale would be completed by the end of July, which is this weekend. We are still hopeful that will be the case.”
UK Coal had planned to mine up to 720,000 tonnes of coal over a period of two years and nine months on part of the 92-hectare site. Some of that coal was to have come from old colliery bings, a relic of some of the many deep mines that once dotted the area.
The company then planned to take the coal by truck to Longannet power station at Kincardine, about five miles away.
It said the mine could provide work for up to 37 people.
Fife Council granted the opencast development planning consent two years ago on condition that the land be restored. Its proposals would have seen the removal of three coal bings, trees planted to extend Black Wood, and the creation of wetland areas to improve biodiversity.
Councillor Bobby Clelland, who represents West Fife and the Coastal Villages, welcomed the news. He said last night, “I understand UK Coal’s proposed merger with Hargreaves fell through and that SRG are now negotiating to buy the site.
“I know SRG are planning to float on the London Stock Exchange, but I don’t know if the sale is conditional on that. I think it is separate.”
Mr Clelland insisted the sale could only be good for the area, bringing with it jobs, and would ultimately see the site regenerated.
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