What steps are being taken to ensure that the exemption for site remediation is not exploited by companies seeking to extract coal from tips for commercial gain, given the Welsh Government's policy objective to avoid the continued extraction and consumption of fossil fuels?
The established policy of the Welsh Government is to bring to a managed end the extraction and use of all coal. The Welsh Ministers do not intend to authorise new coal mining operations, or the extraction of coal from disused tips, unless in wholly exceptional circumstances. Concerning site remediation, our policy requires clear demonstration of those circumstances, and while each proposal would be considered on its individual merits, the presumption will always be against coal extraction.