For centuries, resource-rich countries have relied on hydrocarbons to sustain their economies through the long-term control of supply to both internal and external markets.

As oil and gas reserves decline in the North Sea, the UK and Europe are looking to politically hostile regions to power our future. Combined with renationalisation of assets and re-routing of exports to meet shifting global demands, now long-term security of supply is also in doubt.

Increasing energy prices, scarcity of supply and an ever-growing global demand mean the development of technologies to add to the energy mix gathers importance. However, many of the alternatives – nuclear, biofuels, wind, wave – have their own issues which may yet limit their contribution.

Coal remains an abundant natural resource but the days when traditional deep mines were commercially viable and open cast developments environmentally acceptable have passed.

UCG has the potential to provide a solution to this global energy challenge.

In the UK the British Geological Survey found that the coal resource potentially suitable for UCG was an extra 17 billion tonnes or 300 years at current consumption. This compares with mineable coal resources in the UK with estimates ranging from only 200 million tonnes to 2000 million tonnes with spiralling costs. UCG has substantial economic advantages, is environmentally friendly and provides a secure domestic energy supply for decades to come.