Explainer: How much coal does Northern Ireland use and where do we get it?

Coal imports soared last year by more than 20% compared to 2020, according to the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency. In its latest report on coal, published at the end of February, it was revealed that 1.8m tonnes of coal and other solid fuels were shipped through Northern Ireland’s main ports, up from around 1.5m the previous year.