CELTIC Energy has applied to have the life of Nant Helen Surface Mine near Ystradgynlais extended.

This could safeguard 100 jobs for an extra three years.

The application will be discussed by Powys County Council’s planning committee on Thursday, March 21.

Under the current permission dating from 2012, mining at Nant Helen was supposed to stop on December 31, 2018.

Work restoring the site should have finished  by June 30, 2021.

The company now wants to extend its mining operation up to December 31, 2021, and restoration work to be finished by June 30, 2023.

In his report to the planning committee, Hugh Towns, regional mineral and waste planning manager, explained the importance of the mine: “Restarting coal extraction operations at Nant Helen will lead to over 100 direct jobs for three years and a lower number during restoration which will help to support the local economy.

“There will also inevitably be indirect jobs in support industries.

“The importance of these jobs in this area should not be overstated given that part of Ystradgynlais is within the top 10 per cent of most deprived areas in Wales.

“Abercrave and Tawe Uchaf are in the 30-50 per-cent most deprived areas in Wales based on the Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation.

“Part of Ystradgynlais also as a percentage of the population suffers income deprivation of almost twice the national average and is also the only area in Powys where 25 per cent of the working age population are in employment deprivation.”

According to the report Nant Helen has around 800,000 tonnes of coal left.

This coal has not been mined due to the loss of demand for Welsh anthracite coal from Aberthaw B powerstation.

This was taking up around 50 per cent of Celtic Energy’s output .

Celtic Energy’s coal market following the loss of Aberthaw B fell to around 400,000 tonnes a year.

This meant that it was not economically sound for the company to operate Nant Helen as well as the sites of East Pit and Tairgwath.

Due to this, Nant Helen was mothballed in Octrober 2016.

Coal extraction at East Pit is now coming to an end and to satisfy Celtic Energy’s remaining coal markets, work needs to start again at Nant Helen.

Ystradgynlais Town Council has discussed the application and accepts that work needs to start again but had “strong concerns” about the restoration work.

The council believes that a 30 metre deep lagoon is “unacceptable” as it would endanger Caerbont near the town.