Maltby Colliery should be mothballed, says owner

Company said geological conditions are to blame, putting 500 jobs at risk

The closure of one of the country's last remaining deep coal mines has moved a step closer after its owner declared that the site should be mothballed.

The mine's owner, Hargreaves Services, said Maltby Colliery in Rotherham is no longer viable on health and safety, geological and financial grounds.

The news comes as Hargreaves received results from a recent geological report which shows that the risks associated with mining at Maltby have not significantly reduced.

The company's board is proposing that the pit should be mothballed, putting 500 employees at risk of redundancy. Hargreaves said it will continue to consult with trade unions and asked for any alternative proposals to be submitted by 30 November.

“Although no viable alternative strategic options have been identified by the board at this time, as part of this ongoing consultative process the board will offer the opportunity to employees and trade union representatives to table alternative proposals,” the company said in a statement.

Maltby Colliery produces more than a million tonnes of coal each year, with 60% of its output supplied under a long-term contract to Drax, Europe's largest coal-fired power plant.

Much of the remaining production is sent to Hargreaves' Monckton works near Barnsley, which produces 200,000 tonnes of coke for use in the production of glass, detergents and steel.

The company first disclosed the problems at Maltby in May, although mining continued.