1.   Mr Scargill said it was obscene to import foreign coal when British pits were under threat.

2.   For example, some countries need to import coal because there are no indigenous supplies.

3.   And to top it, they are actually importing their coal which comes from Africa, which is another aspect.

4.   It also bought crude oil through intermediaries on costly spot markets, and imported coal from South Africa and Colombia.

5.   Government spokeswoman Aleksandra Jakubowska said the strike will not lead to breaks in electricity supplies, as the government may consider importing coal.

6.   They now import coal from Poland and Canada, among other countries.