Coal is Spain's most plentiful indigenous energy source. Production has fallen in recent years, and the decline is expected to continue as Spain works to meet environmental standards. Spain is the European Union's largest coal producer. Spain's coal reserves are abundant but difficult to mine. Consequently, the cost of production is higher, making Spanish coal less competitive than that of many other countries. As a result, coal production could eventually be phased out. All of the major coal companies are state-owned. The leading producer of soft coal is Huelleras del Norte S.A. (Hunosa), and the leading producer of lignite is Empresa Nacional de Electricidad S.A. (Endesa). According to the 2008 BP Statistical Energy Survey, Spain had end 2007 coal reserves of 530 million tonnes. Spain produced 18.2 million tonnes of coal in 2007 and consumed 20.1 million tonnes oil equivalent. Thermal coal is imported, primarily for power generation and the steel industry.
According to the 2008 BP Statistical Energy Survey, Spain had end 2007 coal reserves of 530 million tonnes. Spain produced 18.2 million tonnes of coal in 2007 and consumed 20.1 million tonnes oil equivalent. Thermal coal is imported, primarily for power generation and the steel industry.
Terrific. Another government proving how mining shouldn't be run. It's really easy: if costs > income = shut the mine.
It's really easy: if costs > income = shut the mine.
Postponing the inevitable closing of the coal mines is only part of the solution. An alternative needs to be provided to the maybe 100,000 people that would have to relocate were the mines to be closed overnight. What can we done with €600 million per year to ease the transition to the unavoidable future when the mines will be no longer in operation, and the mining comarcas deserted?
Have any plans been decided, or are there any plans in the work that you're aware of, that have already started transition and phase out of coal production or will this continue until total and dramatic collapse becomes inevitable?
Is Spain's unemployment stipend more than 500 euros per month?
300 million spread over 7000 people would give an unemployment benefit a little shy of 3600 euro per month.
I'd wager to guess that's unusual for an unemployment benefit.
Let's make it twice the minimum wage = 1250 per month. Then, costs for the state would be €105 million. Left: €195 million to spent on transition and other affairs.
Last year, the platinum companies in South Africa cut some 30.000+ people. The gold industry cut another 20.000+. Which is truly horrendous, because there is hardly any social safety net in SA. But the point is: firing up to 10.000 people is nothing unusual in mining industry. For Spain, there doesn't need to be any drama, as far as I can see. And shutting down the mines would be for the benefit of everyone, including the environment.
Am I missing something?
Let's make it twice the minimum wage = 1250 per month.
€195 million to [be] spent on transition and other affairs.
By not undertaking action, I will rate Zapatero's government as incompetent as the previous 25+ years of post-Franco government that kept on stimulating unprofitable mining.
Just like his finance minister Solbes saying in January 2006 that the real-estate development economic model was unsustainable and the boom years needed to be used to lay the groundwork for a change in model. 3 years later he left the government and the change of economic model is beginning to be talked about.
The same level of incompetence as Blair's government which came to power in 1997 and was caught by surprise when Scotland's North-sea gas production peaked. You would have thought 5-year projections should be the bread and butter of government. And you would be wrong. En un viejo país ineficiente, algo así como España entre dos guerras civiles, poseer una casa y poca hacienda y memoria ninguna. -- Gil de Biedma
came to power in 1997 and was caught by surprise when Scotland's North-sea gas production peaked
Frank Delaney ~ Ireland
will this continue until total and dramatic collapse
Solar not being indigenous as it comes from the sun, and wind because it from somewhere abroad? Seriously, is there a way to define "indigenous" that is not automatically biased against renewable energy?
Nomad quotes Mbendi:
... Production has fallen in recent years, and the decline is expected to continue as Spain works to meet environmental standards.
Production has fallen in recent years, and the decline is expected to continue as Spain works to meet environmental standards.
Spain is the European Union's largest coal producer.
Spain's coal reserves are abundant but difficult to mine.
Consequently, the cost of production is higher, making Spanish coal less competitive than that of many other countries.
As a result, coal production could eventually be phased out.
All of the major coal companies are state-owned.
The leading producer of soft coal is HuellerasHulleras del Norte S.A. (Hunosa), and the leading producer of lignite is Empresa Nacional de Electricidad S.A. (Endesa).
Nope, by far. In 2006, Spain produced 20 million tons of coal, whereas Poland produced 171 million tons... "Dieu se rit des hommes qui se plaignent des conséquences alors qu'ils en chérissent les causes" Jacques-Bénigne Bossuet
Mbendi is useful as a cursory introduction to mining. At best.
