Celtic Energy, the company which has applied to opencast mine Bryn Defaid in Llwydcoed have a questionable track record with their other opencast sites:
- In 1999, they were named in the Environment Agency’s “hall of shame” as one of Britian’s worst corporate polluters. They were number 10 – having been fined £18,000 in fines. http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/1999/mar/22/johnvidal
- In 2001, they were fined £7,000 and ordered to pay £1,840 in costs at Neath Magistrates Court after pleading guilty to polluting the Afon Dulais with coal dust and silt. http://www.newswales.co.uk/index.cfm?section=Environment&F=1&id=3076
- In 2011 the Serious Fraud Office investigated and arrested 5 people, including 2 directors of Celtic Energy in connection with the sale of 4 mining sites in South Wales and allegations of conspiracy to defraud in relation to their sale. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-east-wales-12782494
- In 2013, the owner and managing director of Celtic Energy (Richard Walters) and the accountant for Celtic Energy (Leighton Humphreys) were among 5 people to be charged with conspiracy to defraud. “It is alleged that the conspiracy involved the establishment of companies in the British Virgin Islands and that the freehold title in the four sites was intended to transfer from Celtic Energy to the BVI companies, thus releasing provisions made in Celtic Energy's annual accounts in respect of financial liability to restore the sites and that this was done for the benefit of the conspirators.” http://www.sfo.gov.uk/press-room/latest-press-releases/press-releases-2013/five-charged-in-south-wales-mining-sites-fraud-case.aspx