Last Scots deep mine placed in liquidation
The future of Scotland's last deep mine looks bleak after it was placed in liquidation.
No work has taken place at Longannet deep mine in Fife since it was flooded with 17 million gallons of water on Saturday.
Scottish Coal (Deep Mine) Ltd announced the decision to call in the liquidators at a press conference in Alloa.
Energy Minister Brian Wilson, who met the company's board, described the news as "bitterly disappointing".
He said: "There may be others who will take a different view about the possibility of re-opening it (the mine) though at present, there are no grounds for optimism on that account.
"I understand that decision and pay tribute to the very significant effort that the company has made to securing a future for Longannet. That includes my own department, which has invested £41m over the past two years in the mine's enormous potential.
"I am sure that we were right to make that commitment and I offer no apology for it. There has been reference to the crisis which arose last month when, once again, unexpected geological barriers were identified.
"While that was indeed a further challenge for Longannet, there was every indication that it was on the way to being surmounted and production was back on track. What happened last weekend was different."
Mr Wilson said today was a "sad day" for miners who had worked so hard to make Longannet a success.
"Whatever the outcome of the liquidator's discussions, I give a commitment on behalf of myself and the Government that we will do our best by the Longannet workforce and their communities in the future, as in the past."
