"A betrayal of future generations" - pics from protest over colliery licence extension

Over 50 Extinction Rebellion activists have been protesting at the Aberpergwm mine in the Neath Valley.

Two climbed the roof of office buildings at the colliery while another locked themselves together in the office of Energybuild Mining Limited – the company that own the mine.

Energybuild have a license to extract 40 million tonnes of anthracite over the next 20 years, which is something Welsh Government say they disapprove of but cannot control.

There is currently a dispute between Welsh Government and UK Government about who is responsible for the final permits for the work to go ahead.

But the organisation reckons the Welsh Government has to stop the mining going ahead and focus on helping workers to transition into more sustainable jobs.

Extinction Rebellion are asking people who are concerned about a just transition for workers to write to their Member of the Senedd and their MP to ask them to speak out against the license extension.

There's also a rally at the Senedd at 2pm on Wednesday 16th March.

Environmental groups including Friends of the Earth and Swansea are coming together under the banner of "Coal Free Future Cymru". They will be joined by Jane Dodds, Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats and Anthony Slaughter, Leader of the Welsh Green Party.

Anthony Slaughter said:

"The Coal Authority decision to grant an extension of the coal mining licence at Aberpergwm colliery is a disastrous setback to the challenge of reaching carbon net zero by 2050, a target endorsed by both the Welsh and UK governments.

"The attempts by both governments to avoid responsibility for this decision is a betrayal of future generations.

"Business as usual no longer an option"

Mr Slaughter said around 100 million tonnes of CO2 could be released if the licence was extended:

"The licence extension will allow Energybuild Ltd to extract a further 40 million tonnes of coal until 2039, emitting an estimated 100 million tonnes of CO2 and up to 1.7 million tonnes of methane. This at a time when plans for carbon reduction in Wales needs to be greatly accelerated."

2050 is no longer a distant date in the future. We need to take urgent and meaningful action towards decarbonization across all sectors in Wales. Old fashioned, dirty, polluting ‘business as usual' is no longer an option."