Solidarity, Scotland’s Socialist Movement, today called for public investment in the coal industry as part of a future energy strategy. The party are backing the campaign to upgrade the coal fired power station at Longannet to ensure that Scotland’s indigenous coal reserves play their part in future green energy policy.

South of Scotland MSP Rosemary Byrne said:

"There is 600 years of coal in Scotland and the industry employs 3,500 people. The technology to reduce carbon emissions by 90% was developed in Scotland and investment in the industry can protect jobs as well as providing the nation with a base load of energy that negates the arguments for new nuclear power stations."

Currently Scottish Coal imports 4.5 Megatonnes (MT) of coal from abroad to burn at Longannet while 6.5 MT are exported from Scottish coalfields. Tommy Sheridan MSP called for an end to this waste of resources.

"We are importing coal from China where miners die every day due to poor working conditions and from South America where Trades Unionists are victims of oppressive regimes. We are calling on the Executive to fund the development of Longannet for indigenous coal to be used to produce energy for Scotland’s homes families."

Solidarity has strong support in the Scottish Coalfields with open cast miners and their families being one of the key founding partners of the new movement.