Latest news with #coalmines
New York Times
03-07-2025
- Business
- New York Times
Quote of the Day: Looking for a Summer Job? It's Brutal Out There.
'That's because they're really the canary in the coal mine. They are the last to be hired, the first to be fired.' ALICIA SASSER MODESTINO, an economist at Northeastern University in Boston, on employers freezing roles or cutting seasonal positions, hitting teenagers the hardest.
Bloomberg
18-06-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
Retired Coal Mines Can Give a Boost to Solar Energy, Report Says
Coal mines abandoned this decade could be used to house about 288 gigawatts of solar panels, more than all the power plants in Germany, from otherwise deserted land, according to a new report by Global Energy Monitor. Dozens of such projects have already been built in China, the world's biggest coal miner and solar developer, while there are also massive opportunities in Australia, Indonesia and the US, the report's authors found. The developments would also create jobs in former mining areas and provide incentives to clean up land scarred by heavy industrial activity.
South China Morning Post
18-06-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Could old coal mines help ease China's solar-panel overcapacity?
China leads the world in converting decommissioned coal-mining sites into solar power projects, a trend that promises to advance the clean energy transition while potentially reducing a surplus of solar panels produced by struggling Chinese manufacturers, according to Global Energy Monitor (GEM). Conversion of surface-mined lands into solar-generation projects had surged in 15 countries, particularly over the past couple of years, the non-governmental organisation said in a report on Wednesday. In mainland China – the world's largest producer and consumer of coal – 90 former coal mines were operating as solar-power facilities, with a total generating capacity of 14 gigawatts (GW), GEM said. An additional 46 projects representing 9GW were in the planning stages, it added. 'Repurposing mines for solar development offers a rare chance to bring together land restoration, local job creation, and clean energy deployment in a single strategy,' said Wu Chengcheng, project manager at GEM and co-author of the report. Outside China, 14 countries, including Australia, the US and Greece, were pursuing conversion projects, targeting a total of 11GW of solar capacity, according to GEM. However, most projects were still in the early stages, with only a small fraction operational. The report said such projects could help address land-utilisation issues, as the world had closed more than 6,000 coal mines since 2010, mostly in China and the US. More were expected to close under national commitments to phase out coal in 33 countries, GEM added. 'I wouldn't discount politics for influencing these trends,' said Ryan Driskell Tate, associate director at GEM. 'These projects turn 'abandoning' into 'rebuilding' and are incredibly symbolic of a just energy transition.'
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The Independent
12-06-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Nigel Farage ridiculed for plan to ‘re-industrialise Wales'
Business secretary Jonathan Reynolds criticised Nigel Farage 's plan to reopen coal mines in Wales, calling it a "parody" of what working-class people want. Mr Reynolds, whose grandfather was a coal miner, said Farage failed to understand the pride and aspirations of working-class communities. Mr Farage announced Reform UK 's ambition to restart Port Talbot's blast furnaces and 're-industrialise Wales' by resuming coal production, aiming to challenge Labour's dominance in the Senedd elections. Mr Reynolds also defended the UK's plan for closer trade ties with the US, emphasising the need to engage despite differing views. Mr Reynolds recounted a phone call with his US counterpart, humorously noting concerns about poor phone signal potentially leading to unintended concessions during negotiations.
The Independent
12-06-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Jonathan Reynolds mocks Nigel Farage's coal mines plan as an ‘absolute parody'
Jonathan Reynolds has mocked Nigel Farage for wanting to reopen the coal mines in Wales, dubbing him an 'absolute parody'. The business secretary, whose grandfather was a coal miner, admitted that Reform UK are Labour's biggest opponents – but said Mr Farage fails to understand 'the pride in where we're from and what we represent, but also the aspiration for the future'. Speaking at a media lunch in Parliament, Mr Reynolds also defended the UK's plan for closer trade ties with the US, saying: 'We might have different views but we have to engage with them'. His comments come after Mr Farage announced his party wants to restart Port Talbot's blast furnaces and 're-industrialise Wales'. On a visit to South Wales, the leader of Reform UK said the resumption of traditional steelmaking and coal production is the party's long-term ambition if it comes to power. The speech came one year ahead of the Senedd elections in May next year, where the party is looking to end Labour's 26 years of domination. But Mr Reynolds shot down the plan, telling reporters: 'When I see someone like Nigel Farage go to Wales and say to those people, 'I'm going to reopen the coal mines' and he thinks that's what working class people want - that is an absolute parody of what someone like Nigel Farage thinks that people like I grew up actually want.' He added: 'My grandfather was a coal miner, kind of much like everyone where I grew up… It was a position of real responsibility and family pride. 'He went down the mine fourteen years ago. He had one message for my dad, and that was 'don't go down the mine'. And he became a fireman. 'That's the bit that our opponents don't understand: the pride in where we're from and what we represent, but also the aspiration for the future.' Acknowledging that Reform is currently Labour's biggest opponent, he said the challenge facing the government is to persuade voters that 'mainstream politics can deliver for them'. Turning to the US trade deal, Mr Reynolds said the UK was able to negotiate one before other countries because Britain has made an effort to understand America's mindset. 'This is not US politics disrupting global trade. This is how global trade has disrupted US politics', he said. 'We might have different views but we have to engage with them.' The business secretary also recounted one phone call with his US counterpart Howard Lutnick, where he said he was worried he was 'going to sell the NHS' because of poor phone signal. 'The Woodhead Pass between South Yorkshire and Manchester is probably the only place in Britain with worse mobile phone reception than working in Parliament…. 'Howard starts talking, but because of the reception, every fifth or sixth word is genuinely cutting out of signal. 'I'm literally slightly worried I'm going to sell the f***ing NHS because of Britain's telecommunications infrastructure. I didn't. And I'm pleased to say we were the first country to get a deal.' The deal, announced last month by Sir Keir Starmer and Donald Trump, will see British tariffs on steel and automotive exports to the US slashed in exchange for greater access to the UK for some American goods. But the deal has still not been implemented, with both Washington and London yet to take the necessary steps to reduce tariffs. Mr Reynolds said the UK is 'ready to go' on implementing it's the deal, but is waiting for the White House to finalise it on their side. The business secretary added he was 'very hopeful' that the agreement would come into effect 'very soon', but acknowledged negotiations had not 'always been easy'. A Reform UK spokesman said: 'Labour are continuing to deindustrialise our towns and communities across the country. They don't blink when we lose thousands of well paid jobs in these crucial industries. 'Labour simply don't understand working people. Reform will continue to call for the re-industrialisation of Britain and with it, bring back thousands of well paid jobs.'
