Cats on front line at Greenburn

摘要

Kier Mining have been active in Scotland for over 25 years but their recently established Greenburn OCCS near New Cumnock, in East Ayrshire, represents a new challenge for the mining arm of the Kier Group, with the company taking on its first-ever opencast coal project as site owner, developer and operator, rather than its traditional role as a coal contractor. The project has been part funded by a £3.9 million Freight Facilities Grant awarded by the Scottish Executive, with authorization to build a new 3.5km rail link to the site gained through a Light Railway Order — the first to be granted by the Executive under its devolved powers. Unlike England, where Freight Facilities Grants have been suspended indefinitely, such awards are still available in Scotland.