250 Neath Valley mining jobs under threat
A NEATH Valley mine could be mothballed within three months, with the loss of more than 250 jobs.
Letters have been sent to workers at the Aberpergwm Colliery, near Glynneath, informing them of the potential job losses.
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Suspension would affect a total of 270 employees with 251 losing their jobs and 19 being kept on to run the mine on a care and maintenance basis.
The mine's parent company Walter Energy has entered into a 90-day consultation period with staff.
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Most of the staff will remain at home on full pay during the consultation, with up to 100 employees kept on to continue development works within the mine's upper drift.
A spokesman for Walter Energy said: "Walter Energy announced today it is commencing consultation regarding a proposal to suspend activities at its Aberpergwm Colliery, which will affect approximately 270 employees.
"This proposal is as a result of a challenging economic environment which continues to heavily impact the global coal industry.
"During this period of consultation, most of the employees will remain at home on full pay.
"However, up to 100 employees may be required to continue working at the mine during this consultation period to continue development works within the upper drift.
"If Walter Energy proceeds with the proposals outlined today, early indications are that only a small number of employees would be retained to keep the mine in a safe condition until operations resume.
"Formal consultation will take place shortly with employee and trade union representatives, and as such it is inappropriate for the company to make any further comment at this time."
Neath MP Peter Hain said: "This is desperately disappointing.
"I have given the mine every support I can but it appears to be a victim of international factors, including the global recession, which is severely affecting the price of coal and the damaging policies by the Westminster Government which are hitting businesses hard."
National Union of Mine Workers (NUM) representative Wayne Thomas said: "We can clarify the procedures they need, we can give support at a very traumatic time and guidance as to what options, albeit limited, are available to them."
Glynneath mayor Eddie Jones said: "These are jobs that we desperately need because there is very little else in this area."
Neath AM Gwenda Thomas said: "Losing these well-paid jobs will be a real blow for the local economy.
"I and my office will do all that we can to mitigate the effects of these job losses, and will closely liaise with the Welsh Government, Walter Energy and the workforce through the NUM to help these miners."
Comments
by siarad2
Friday, October 19 2012, 7:45PM
“@Neathboy234
Seems you missed the point about Tata steel exporting miner's jobs to Africa when we have 200 years supply of UK coal.
I use local anthracite & can assure you the price has not fallen, very much the reverse! with a large hike
Also China builds polluting coal power plants, like we are being commanded to close by the EU & then we, through our EU tax pay them to install filters & then, you can't make it up, GIVE them Carbon certificates to SELL, rolleyes”
by NeathPTboy
Friday, October 19 2012, 5:18PM
“Yet Britain has been ordered by Brussels to close down its highly polluting coal fired power stations.”
by Stork
Friday, October 19 2012, 4:57PM
“Mrs.Merkel has just agreed to build 23 new coal fired power stations. You're unlikely to see any German pits closing, irrespective of the World price of coal. Coal is a strategic asset, and the Germans won't let it go.”
by Neathboy234
Friday, October 19 2012, 3:11PM
“siarad2 Oh dear U just don't get it do U. I will explain the jobs are going because the price of coal has dropped, and the price has dropped because the demand for coal in China has dropped. If U look on the internet you will see that in China they are even mothballing some of their steelworks and idling some blast furnaces. What u fail to understand is that we live in a global economy, and when it comes to supplying China a down turn there effects the rest of the world.”
by siarad2
Friday, October 19 2012, 3:05PM
“Well here's a fourth try, I keep losing my post grrrrrrr
Aberpergwm colliery supplies China! the worlds largest coal producer, that's amazing salespersonship.
Nothing to do with about six months ago: Business Line reported that TATA Steel will begin coal shipments from its Benga mines project in Mozambique by the month end.”
by Neathboy234
Friday, October 19 2012, 12:37PM
“siarad2 the reason this mine is closing is because the fall in demand in china, and downward price trends because of it. Lat time i looked there were 400 million T of coal stockpiled in the peoples republic, something just had to give. sadly we are befitting from the global economy and suffer from time to time because of it as well”
by siarad2
Friday, October 19 2012, 12:17PM
“Ah! the steady march of CO2's angels takes its toll but take heart, if we believe the hype, there's one permanent employee for each wind turbine.
The Irish gov. is currently putting them up, not far away, so jump in quickly & apply for jobs.
I recall in 1968 helping to start a factory in Crynant to take local ex-miners (they didn't know they were about to be ex, hush hush) but we were bankrupted by union actions.
Why is China allowed to build coal fired power stations the score but we must close ours.
Peculiar isn't it that despite China's massive rise in CO2 global warming ceased in 2005.”
by Neathboy234
Friday, October 19 2012, 11:34AM
“This is just awful news for these workers, but sadly not unexpected. When Australia are stopping production in their mines then we know the coal industry is in trouble.”