This is a planning proposal from a deep mine to produce coking coal for steel production. Whilst one can pretend to be very "green" and "up-to-date", we all use steel. Even "green" electric cars are made from steel. And this is for Europe, as well. So, I don't know where Ducati get their steel from, but in future, if permission was granted, horrible, dirty steel for your Ducati could be made with steel made with UK coking coal! But, it is all so straightforward, if you a "green"!
Italian steel production far exceeds that of the UK - they are the 11th biggest producer in the world. This is despite the fact that it is recognised as a big emitter of toxins and the deaths from cancer around the Taranto factory are linked to airborn pollution from the steelworks. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-49713147 No doubt the EU will be looking at this and issuing huge financial penalties to the Italian government as soon as possible
I doubt that there are sufficient natural resources left in the UK to deal with that these days. In the late 80s I worked bulk carriers on charter to British Steel, bringing in coal and iron ore for the demand as it was then. Saying that, there was probably a lot more UK steel production going on in those times.
Perhaps we should consider using cleaner energy to heat up the ore... perhaps Nuclear via electric... Isn't coal always used in Steel production (to make the heat)?
Coke is used as fuel, and as a part of the conversion process too. https://www.fedsteel.com/our-blog/how-does-coke-and-coal-play-into-steel-making/
I thought that it was traditional that Italy never pay any fines, with only "honest" UK paying any fine. We will be missed!
Heating coal and coal fit for steel making are not the same thing. https://www.corsacoal.com/about-corsa/coal-in-steelmaking/ Hence our ships running around the planet in the 80's/90's for British Steel.
