Posted on 08/06/2004 7:58:04 AM PDT by Moiraine
The old saying, "to carry coals to Newcastle", has taken a literal twist after a deal to import thousands of tons of coal to the Port of Tyne from Russia.
It was coined as an expression for a superfluous act or taking something to where it was already plentiful and was first recorded in 1538.
That meaning could soon be as redundant as all but one of the pits in the once coal-rich north-east of England.
The Port of Tyne, which used to export 23 million tons a year from the Durham and Northumberland coalfields, has just received its first two consignments from Russia.
It is expected to import 70,000 tons by December in an experimental deal with the Alcan aluminium smelting plant in Northumberland.
Keith Wilson, the port's managing director, said it had not exported coal since 1998.
"The Tyne was the largest exporter of coal. We do not export coal now and it is ironic that we are starting to import it."
The development has been condemned by the mineworkers' union.
Dave Hopper, the north-east secretary of the NUM, said: "The Alcan smelter came to the North East almost 40 years ago to benefit from cheap coal and was built next to Lynemouth colliery to cut transport costs.
"The coal sold to Alcan for nearly 30 years was so cheap that details of the deal with the National Coal Board were shrouded in secrecy.
"Ellington, the last colliery in the North East, is only two miles away and is struggling to stay open."
Alcan said it had been importing coal for some time but this was the first time it had been delivered through the Port of Tyne.
"The company has a contract with Ellington but the colliery has not been able to produce enough to power the station for around 10 years."
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