Opencast Mining

South Wales is home to the largest opencast mine in the United Kingdom - at Ffos y Fran to the east of Merthyr Tydfil. 

The bulk of the operation's output goes either to the coal-fired power station at Aberthaw near Barry or to Tata Steel's Port Talbot plant.

Operator Miller Argent says demand is high - so high it wants to open another opencast mine at nearby Nant Llesg at the top of the neighbouring Rhymney Valley.

That's a prospect viewed with dismay by many local residents who fear that dust, noise and vibration from the proposed mine could blight the nearby communities of Rhymney, Pontlottyn and Fochriw.

Miller Argent says noise and dust won't be a problem for residents as the company already goes above and beyond its legal obligations to minimise those issues at Ffos y Fran and they'll do the same at Nant Llesg.

But campaigners against the plans remain to be convinced.

In this programme, Felicity Evans hears from both sides of the argument.