About Surface Mining
All of the mineral extraction sites currently operated by Scottish Coal employ surface mining methodologies. Surface mining is simply the practice of removing the soil and rock from above the coal in order to extract the mineral deposit rather than digging it from underground tunnels.
Surface mining eliminates the need to dig shafts and tunnels to access the coal and provides a greater degree of certainty over production needs. This method of coal recovery also results in more consistent quality and lower costs. In addition, surface mining is only a temporary use of land: this offers the opportunity for progressive restoration to a range of after-uses to meet the aspirations of both the company and local communities.
Our sites operate on a 'green-to-green' policy through which we remain committed to taking account of a full range of environmental and amenity considerations, for example, local ecosystems. The typical operational lifespan of a site is between 3-7 years and after the mining of coal has been completed,we aim to restore each site to an agreed after-use. This may include developments for new jobs and homes or for agriculture, forestry or leisure. In every case, the legacy of historical underground mining will have been removed, ensuring that the land is safer and fit for future purposes.
