The power utility companies SSE and RWE announced their decisions to close coal-fired power stations in the UK ahead of the government's 2025 ban.

"Today marks the official closure of the iconic Fiddler’s Ferry Power Station in Warrington, Cheshire, following nearly 50 years of generation," SSE said in a Tuesday statement, recalling that the closure of the coal-fired power station, which became fully operational in 1973, had been officially announced in June last year.

Fiddler's Ferry had a capacity of 2,000 megawatts (MW), producing enough electricity to power around two million homes, the company said.

In 2015, the UK announced its plan to incrementally stop coal use, setting 2025 as the target date. Coal was a key part of the 18th and 19th century industrial movement in the UK.

Following the suit, the Aberthaw (RWE), which first began operating in the UK in 1971, said they shut their power plant in the country.

"Today marks the closure of Aberthaw Power Station. The 1,560MW coal fired power station is the company's last coal station in the UK and marks the end of an era. Thank you to all the people who have been involved with the station over its long and impressive generating history," the company said on Twitter.

The closure of the last two coal-fired plants of SSE and RWE leaves only four operating coal-fired plants in the UK ahead of the government's 2025 ban.

By Sibel Morrow

Anadolu Agency

energy@aa.com.tr