MEDIA RELEASE

Annual Conference and Public Meeting

13th September 2007

The Coal Authority will be holding an annual public meeting and conference on 13 September 2007 to review the role for coal in meeting the UK's medium term energy requirements as part of a diverse and secure energy mix. This will be preceded by a review of activities carried out by the Authority during the fiscal year ended 31 March 2007. A review of current activities will also be undertaken.

The conference will be held at Our Dynamic Earth, Holyrood Road, Edinburgh, EH8 8AS from 10.00 am to 5.00 pm.

John Harris CBE, Chair and Philip Lawrence, Chief Executive will review the work of the Authority carried out during 2006-2007 and activities being undertaken this year. This will be followed by the conference, which will be chaired by John Harris and include presentations on the Energy White Paper 2007, the future for coal in Scotland, coal's role in the UK power generation market, the European picture for coal and carbon abatement technologies, including natural gas from coal and clean coal power generation with carbon capture and storage.

There will be question and answer sessions during the day.

This is a free event to which members of the public are invited to attend.

END

Note for Editors

The Coal Authority, located at Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, was established under the Coal Industry Act 1994, with responsibility for four principal functions: Licensing coal-mining operations; subsidence damage claims which are not the responsibility of the privatised successor companies or other licensed operators; dealing with property and historic liabilities such as old shafts and minewater pumping; and providing public access to information on coal-mining operations past and present.

MEDIA CONTACT:

John Delaney
Corporate Affairs Manager
Tel:   01623 427162        
Fax: 01623 427316

Email: johndelaney@coal.gov.uk