SENEDD members slammed the mismanagement of Ffos-y-Fran opencast mine today saying bosses’ mistakes “must never happen again.”

The climate change and environment committee called for lessons to be learned about how sites are restored after mining permits end. 

The Ffos-y-Fran mine in Merthyr Tydfil was the last opencast mine in Wales. Its owners’ licence to extract coal expired in September 2022, but the mine continued to operate illegally until its closure in November 2023. 

Merthyr (South Wales) Ltd pledged to restore the site after operations finished but the committee heard evidence that since 2017, it has paid out nearly £50 million in dividends from the business.  

The company, led by director David Lewis, now claims it is unable to afford restoration.

The committee has called for the Welsh government to use stronger enforcement measures when planning controls are breached.

The local community is facing a permanent scar across its countryside as it fights to see the land restored. 

The Welsh government was asked to comment.