New era as Coal Authority becomes Mining Remediation Authority

The Coal Authority today changes its name to the Mining Remediation Authority. This better reflects the organisation's 24/7 role to manage the effects of historical mining in England, Scotland and Wales and its work to seek low-carbon opportunities from our mining heritage for the future. The change has been approved by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.

Jeff Halliwell, chair of the Mining Remediation Authority, said:

The Coal Authority has undertaken vital work for 30 years to keep people, drinking water and the environment safe from the legacy impacts of our mining heritage.

As we look to the future and their work increasingly focuses on remediation and exciting low carbon opportunities, such as mine water heating, it is appropriate to change our name to reflect the important work ahead.

I am delighted to announce that today we become the Mining Remediation Authority.

The Coal Authority celebrated 30 years of frontline delivery on the 31 October 2024 and the statutory responsibilities of the Mining Remediation Authority will not change as it continues to have primary responsibilities for managing the coal assets and legacy as defined in the Coal Industry Act 1994, including public safety and subsidence and informing safe development and growth across Great Britain.  

The new name reflects wider work already delivered on metal mine pollution prevention and tip safety, an increasing focus on environmental remediation and mine water treatment, and work to find low-carbon opportunities for communities, such as mine water heat, from the nationalised assets.

Lisa Pinney MBE, chief executive officer of the Mining Remediation Authority, said:

Becoming the Mining Remediation Authority better reflects the important work we do to make a better future for people and the environment in mining areas across Great Britain.

We will continue to deliver the same frontline work to support mining communities, keep people safe from coal hazards, protect drinking water, rivers and the sea from pollution, inform development and conveyancing decisions, and enable opportunities from the assets we manage, working closely with partners and the emergency services.