A Coal Mine in the Long Grass?

The Public Enquiry to potentially approve the first deep coal mine in the UK for 30 years, starts today (https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/sep/07/public-inquiry-begins-into-plans-for-new-coalmine-in-cumbria). The proposed Cumbrian coal mine has the support of regional Members of Parliament, presumably because the prospect 'local, well-paid jobs' boosts their re-election chances. It is claimed that this pit, is an exceptional case, as it will supply coking coal, 'needed' for steel production. Some experts believe coal from this mine is not the right fuel for the UK's steel industry. There are also well-documented attempts, in other countries, to produce steel, using hydrogen as fuel. So, coking coal's days might be numbered. As the online Public Enquiry is expected, however, to take at least 4 weeks, it will not report until after the COP26 meeting in Glasgow has finished. The UK government are likely to ask other countries to reduce their use of coal. One might suggest that the timing of the Enquiry is equivalent to 'kicking the problem into the long grass'.