Taskforce looks into mining future as 600 posts cut

A TASKFORCE has been set up to look at how the coal industry can be sustained following major job losses.

Scottish Coal, which operates six mines in East Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire and Fife, announced it is in liquidation last week, with the loss of almost 600 jobs.

Energy minister Fergus Ewing said his new group will include cross-party MSPs and will engage with councils, landowners, coal operators and local communities.

“Our main goal in our discussions with all relevant parties is to retain as many Scottish Coal jobs as possible,” he told MSPs at Holyrood.

Announcing the closures on Friday last week, administrators KPMG cited a combination of falling coal prices and rising operational costs.

The largest job losses are at the Broken Cross site at Douglas Water in South Lanarkshire, where 191 posts will go. At the Dalfad mine in Muirkirk, East Ayrshire, 101 jobs have been cut and 89 staff will go at Dunstonhill in East Ayrshire.