“Centennial is strategically placed to take advantage of strong demand for thermal coal, with long term domestic contracts expiring in coming years,” Chief Executive Officer Bob Cameron said.

A more practical way forward is to support strong carbon prices, under which gas still displaces coal but finds it harder to replace genuinely low-carbon options.

Scots preserve strong memories of Margaret Thatcher's era, when coal mines, steelworks and shipyards closed, pushing up unemployment, and an unpopular local poll tax was tested.