3. Will the First Minister provide an update on the application to extend the extraction licence at Glan Lash opencast coal mine? OQ58453

Thank you. I am aware that a planning application has been submitted to Carmarthenshire County Council for an extension of mining at Glan Lash. At the current time, Welsh Government has not been asked to consider any extension of the corresponding Coal Authority licence authorisation. Should an application be made, we will consider it against our stated policy.

Diolch, Trefnydd. The interesting thing with Glan Lash is that an independent planning ecology report commissioned by Carmarthenshire County Council has recommended rejecting the application on the basis that it does not fulfil the council's duty to maintain and enhance biodiversity. They reference laws made by this Senedd. So, which is right, given the possible planning applications around the extension of Aberpergwm, and the Welsh Government's assertion that it has no grounds to intervene on the application? Because, surely, none of us want any more coal. Diolch yn fawr iawn.

Thank you. I am aware that both Natural Resources Wales and the planning authority's ecology officer have raised concerns regarding the proposed development, and those concerns are going to be considered, I understand, by the planning committee in due course. We have a notification direction in place that states:

'where a local planning authority does not propose to refuse an application for coal and petroleum development, the authority must notify the Welsh Ministers.' 

I think there's a bit of difference here. So, Glan Lash is currently within the planning regime, but Aberpergwm already has planning permission in place, so that's now being considered within the entirely separate Coal Authority licensing regime. So, the planning regime and the Coal Authority licensing place very different duties on Welsh Ministers, and the devolved executive functions are triggered by very different criteria, so I think that's the difference between the two.

I believe that Bryn Bach Coal Limited has applied to Carmarthenshire County Council for permission to mine by surface mining operations 110,000 tonnes of premium-quality anthracite from the proposed Glan Lash extension. Having checked on their website, the county council's website, I note that the application was received on 29 November 2019. So, it was a sensible question to ask about what is happening here, when, three years on, a decision still has not been made. I certainly trust that the planning authority will base their resolution on planning policy.

Now, the reality is, whether we like it or not, there is a demand for coal in Wales, and in the UK, 7.3 million tonnes was used in 2021. In fact, the UK imported 4.6 million tonnes just last year. So, what action are you and your Government taking to ensure that, by pursuing our net-zero goals and ambitions, Wales is not going to become even more dependent on coal that is being imported? Thank you.

Thank you. Well, as you know, our policy objective is to avoid the continued extraction and consumption of all fossil fuels; to bring to a managed end the extraction and use of coal; and to ensure that just transition that we need for those employees and communities who would be affected by the change. We know that if we extend existing coaling in Wales, it would just have such a significant effect on our legally binding—I should remind you, legally binding; there's no point pulling a face—it's a legally binding carbon budget. It would also have an effect on the UK's legally binding carbon budgets as well, because, obviously, what we do in Wales has an impact on the rest of the UK and vice versa.