13.7.2002 Official Journal of the European Communities L 184[37 COMMISSION DECISION of 24 April 2002 authorising the United Kingdom to grant aid to four coal production units for 2001 (notified under document number C(2002) 1447) (only the English text is authentic) (Text with EEA relevance) (2002/582[ECSC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Coal and Steel Community, Having regard to Commission Decision No 3632/93/ECSC of 28 December 1993 establishing Community rules for State aid to the coal industry (), and in particular Article 9(4) thereof, Whereas: 4 By letter of 13 February 2002, the United Kingdom noti- fied the Commission, in accordance with Article 9(1) of Decision No 3632/93/ECSC, of financial aid which it intends to grant to the coal industry for 2001. In the light of the information submitted by the United Kingdom, the Commission is required to take a decision on operating aid amounting to GBP 4 055 520 to cover the operating losses of four production units for the period from 1 January 2001 to 31 December 2001. The financial measures are covered by Article 1 of Deci- sion No 3632/93/ECSC. The Commission must therefore take a decision on these measures pursuant to Article 9(4) of that Decision. The Commission’s approval is subject to compliance with the general objectives and criteria laid down in Article 2 and the specific criteria set out in Article 3 of Decision No 3632/93/ECSC and, more generally, to the aid’s being compatible with the proper functioning of the common market. In addition, in its assessment, the Commission is required to check, in accordance with Article 9(6) of that Decision, whether the measures notified are in conformity with the plan for modernisation, rationalisation and restructuring of the United Kingdom coal industry approved by the Commis- sion by Decision 2001/114/ECSC (3, and Decision 2001/597[ECSC (%) (hereinafter ‘the restructuring plan). I The sum of GBP 4 055 520 which the United Kingdom is proposing to grant to the coal industry under Article 3 L 329, 30.12.1993, p. 12. L 43, 14.2.2001, p. 27. L 210, 3.8.2001, p. 32. of Decision No 3632/93/ECSC is intended to cover the difference between the production cost and the selling price of coal freely agreed between the contracting parties in the light of the conditions prevailing on the world market for coal of similar quality from third coun- tries. The aid is intended for the following units: (a) GBP 739000 for the North East Surface Mines production unit of H.J. Banks and Co., Ltd; (b) GBP 832 000 for the Central Surface Mines produc- tion unit of H.J. Banks and Co. Ltd; (c) GBP 1157 520 for the Hatfield Colliery production unit of Coalpower Ltd; (d) GBP 1327000 for the Ayrshire Coalfields produc- tion unit of LAW Mining Ltd. The Commission has already authorised the United Kingdom to grant operating aid to North East Surface Mines and Central Surface Mines pursuant to Article 3 of Decision No 3632/93/ECSC amounting to GBP 703 000 and GBP 661 000 respectively for the period from 17 April 2000 to 31 December 2000 by Decision 2001/ 597/ECSC. In accordance with Article 2 of Decision No 3632/93/ECSC, the Commission was of the opinion that the aid which the United Kingdom proposed to grant was intended to improve the economic viability of the production units concerned by reducing their production costs. In accordance with the restructuring plan, the aid should help to make those production units viable enabling them to continue their activities beyond 2002 without the need for public subsidy. The information transmitted by the United Kingdom in its letter of 13 February 2002 confirms the analysis and conclusions in Decision 2001/597/ECSC. The reduction in the production costs of North East Surface Mines and Central Surface Mines will make it possible to achieve economic viability of those mines in 2002. Production costs should be respectively GBP 0.89/G] and GBP 1,02/GJ in 2002.