Coal Authority to establish £100M mine water treatment works framework
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The Coal Authority has alerted contractors that it is looking to form a £100M framework to deliver mine water treatment schemes at over 70 facilities across England, Scotland and Wales.
The framework is being set up by the Coal Authority in partnership with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Environment Agency, Scottish Environment Protection Agency and Natural Resources Wales.
The treatment schemes and solutions will responsibly treat mine water before it enters natural watercourses. They will prevent uncontrolled discharges and control mine water levels within the underlying mine water blocks.
Construction of these treatment facilities is “critical in preserving our natural environment from the after effects of mining, mitigating the risk of ocherous deposits smothering river beds, which impacts the ecosystem and causes significant localised harm,” according to the Coal Authority.
The framework will see a number of contractors appointed to design and deliver new mine water treatment schemes and refurbish existing schemes along with associated minor works. The treatment of metal mine water will also fall within this scope to mitigate pollution caused by historical metal mining.
The framework is proposed to last for a total of four years.
However, this is only a prior information notice and the Coal Authority notes that dates and structure may be subject to change.
The Coal Authority is encouraging interested contractors to get in touch to discuss the proposal and better understand the requirements.
The estimated contract publication of the contract notice is July 2024.
The Coal Authority said: “The Coal Authority is committed to becoming a more sustainable organisation (environmental and social) and we want to use our work to help deliver positive change in the communities we support. We have an ambition to be a net zero organisation by 2030 and we will continue to decarbonise our activities. The delivery of the services will be critical to achieve these ambitions and our sustainable targets.”
Further details on the works expected are below.
A brand new or major refurbishment of a mine water treatment scheme may include:
- Aeration systems – typically cascade structures
- Settlement lagoons
- Reed beds / wetland areas
- Sludge handling facilities
- Inlet and outlet structures and liner systems to the settlement lagoons and wetlands
- Interconnecting channels and pipelines
- Access roads and footpaths
- Associated drainage works
- Pumping infrastructure
- Mechanical and electrical works for schemes where pumping to remote treatment area or from underground workings is required
- Chemical dosing systems where required
- Landscaping works, fencing and signage
Refurbishment and upgrade of existing mine water treatment schemes may include:
- Refurbish pumping infrastructure – pumps, pipework, valves
- Refurbish electrical infrastructure – panels, cabling etc.
- General building improvement to pumping stations including installation / refurbishment of building services
- Flow monitoring structures
- Mine water capture works, including collection chambers at existing discharge points
- Installation of lagoons / reedbeds / sludge drying beds
- Metalwork, gridding, hand railing etc.
- Replacement of lagoon liners
- Upgrade of existing access roads and footpaths
- Refurbishment and upgrade of drainage
- Refurbishment of landscaping works, fencing and signage
- Refurbishment of chemical dosing systems, where required
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