UK to close coal power stations by 2025 says energy minister

The UK Conservative government is to consult on phasing out coal completely by 2025 – but only if new gas capacity is advancing fast enough

UK Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, Amber Rudd, told an audience in London 18 November that after “20 years of action on climate change, 30% of the country’s electricity still comes from unabated coal. One of the greatest and most cost-effective contributions we can make to emission reductions in electricity is by replacing coal fired power stations with gas. “I am pleased to announce that we will be launching a consultation in the spring on when to close all unabated coal-fired power stations”, she told the Institution of Civil Engineers in a speech. “Our consultation will set out proposals to close coal by 2025 – and restrict its use from 2023”, she said. "T