Coal. Cinderella of Scottish electricity policy

The contribution of coal to Scottish energy needs has been cut by half in the twenty five years up to 1975, as cheap imported oil and gas displaced it from traditional industrial markets. This has left electricity generation as by far the most important component in coal sales. However, the SSEB is an increasingly reluctant monopoly consumer, and has since the mid '60s shown a determination to move away from coal to oil and gas, and latterly nuclear power for electricity generation. It is the purpose of this paper to discuss that process, and to argue that a reversal of the 'shift from coal' is desirable on economic and other grounds. (author)