Partner Article

Business chief praises North East mining

A top UK business leader has visited the North East’s latest surface mine to show how modern coal mining can boost the country’s energy requirements.

Richard Lambert, director general of the CBI, paid a visit to The Banks Group’s Shotton surface mine on the Blagdon Estate in Northumberland as part of a tour of regional businesses.

Richard Lambert said: “It was great to visit the mine. The scale of the operation is impressive as is the professionalism of the people who work there.

“I thank them for a warm welcome, in common with everyone I met in the North East.”

The 300-hectare site deploys technologies such as noise insulation and water sprays to minimise its environmental impact and employs 110 workers who contribute £1m a month to North East suppliers.

The Shotton site, near Seaton Burn, began operations in May last year and will include a new public park based around ‘Northumberlandia’, a human form sculpted into the landscape by artist and designer Charles Jencks.

Mark Dowdall, the Banks Group environment and community director, said: “Many of the technologies which have been developed at our North East sites set the benchmark for the mining industry.

“They are just one example of how North East innovation is having a positive impact on industrial processes throughout the world.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .