ORR REDUCTION ON COAL FREIGHT ACCESS CHARGES A ‘STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION’ The SNP has said the Office of Rail Regulation’s proposals for freight charges on coal being used for electricity generation will be lower than originally suggested is a ‘step in the right direction’. The ORR proposed an additional charge of £4.04 a tonne on coal being used for electricity generation from 2016. After pressure from the industry, the ORR has now said it will be an additional £1.04 a tonne. Commenting, SNP MSP Adam Ingram, who is part of a Scottish Coal Industry Taskforce and represents Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley in East Ayrshire, one of the largest affected authorities, said: “This announcement is a step in the right direction as it will see freight access charges at a substantially lower level than originally proposed by the ORR in January. “It is good news the ORR has listened to the concerns of the industry and local communities – the hard work of the Coal Industry Taskforce has clearly paid off. "The Scottish coal industry is a significant contributor to our economy through surface mining activities. It supports around 3,000 direct, full-time jobs and 4,500 indirect jobs in the Scottish supply chain, and generates approximately £450 million per year in economic value for Scotland. “That is why we campaigned against the ORR’s proposals which would have had a disastrous consequence for the viability of the Scottish coal industry and the prospects for the future development of clean coal electricity generation in Scotland. “The SNP will always work hard to support the continuation of mining operations and preservation of Scottish jobs, as well as ensuring the responsible restoration of sites”.
Posted on: Wed, 12 Jun 2013 14:30:01 +0000
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