By-Products Opportunities Framework 2024 to 2027
Foreword
We are pleased to share our By-Products Framework for 2024 – 2027. This explains our work to date in using our By-Products to create value in line with our 2022-2025 Business Plan and demonstrates how we will work with others to develop further opportunities over the next 3 years.
The Coal Authority are a practical operational organisation and focus on using our technical expertise and professionalism to keep coalfield communities and environments safe. This includes treating over 122 Billion Litres of Mine Water a year, removing iron ochre to protect clean drinking water and aquifers.
Our ongoing innovation programme continues to consider opportunities for creating financial, social and environmental value from mine water and the ochre we remove. This framework outlines how we are addressing these prospects within our operations to make it easy for interested parties to understand areas where we can potentially work together.
Our value creation aims are to minimise costs for the taxpayer, reduce waste, support the circular economy and contribute to our ambition to be a net zero organisation by 2030. This is in line with the priorities outlined in our Sustainability Plan 2023 – 2026, our Business Plan and our 10 year vision.
To help achieve this we recognise that working with public and private organisations possessing complementary skills and expertise will allow us to maximise value and impact.
Whilst this framework outlines our existing routes for by-product development, we will actively engage with new organisations to develop applications or geographical locations where we can begin to work together. To facilitate this we will remain an organisation that encourages innovative approaches and that is easy to work with.
Our people remain core to the delivery of this framework. We know it is important that everyone understands the opportunities that are available to the organisation and that they are critical considerations as we evolve of our ways of operation and service deliver in response to the changing world around us.
Over the next three years, we will continue to develop and nurture the markets and relationships that have already been created in England, Scotland and Wales, whilst continuing to explore new opportunities for value development across our environment.
We know we maximise by-product opportunities by learning from what we do and also by engaging with others. We always welcome approaches on how you think we can work together and how we can do better.
