Ever since Germany phased out nuclear power, coal has been back in fashion. The result is soaring CO2 emissions. The Social Democratic Energy Minister now wants to introduce a new tax which could force several power plants to shut their doors. Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives oppose the measure, saying it will mean higher electricity bills and the loss of thousands of jobs. Our correspondents headed to one of Germany's main coal regions and met people devoted to their mining traditions.

Programme prepared by Patrick Lovett and Elom Marcel Toble

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