Petition Delivered "No Link" between Coal Boss and GDF Say the Dept of Energy and Net Zero
Many Thanks to All who have signed and shared the petition - this scandal is yet to hit any headlines!
The petition has been delivered and the reply from Andrew Bowie MP on behalf of the Dept of Energy Security and Net Zero is that there is "no link" between the Coal Boss and the GDF plan - no conflict of interest despite the Coal Authority (who Mark Kirkbride hopes will award him licence to drill) and the Nuclear Dump Committee (the Committee on Radioactive Waste Management) BOTH being sponsored by the Dept of Energy Security and Net Zero.
Mark Kirkbride's coal mine licence applications (which lapsed in October 2022) can now be viewed on the Coal Authority website - but - guess what - they are highly redacted. Given that this coal mine would be just five miles from Sellafield some of the redactions are particularly disturbing such as the position of faults in the coal mine areas.
Also redacted is the corporate structure of West Cumbria Mining.. Director Owen Hegarty bankrolled WCM through his private equity firm EMR Capital and in turn has had his own coal mine business interests in Siberia bankrolled by the Russian state. This secrecy around WCM's corporate structure rings alarm bells - but apparently not for the Dept of Energy Security and Net Zero.
Andrew Bowie MP said the “false claims” of "cronyism" and "conflict of interest" amounted to “harrassment” of Mark Kirkbride because there is “no link” between the coal mine and the GDF (deep nuclear dump). There is “no link” despite the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero being responsible for both the appointment of Mark Kirkbride as GDF (nuclear dump) advisor with CoRWM and for Government sponsorship of the Coal Authority who are now due to make a decision on whether or not Mark Kirkbride will be granted his licence to drill.
Hey ho - onwards and upwards
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