Final state approvals granted for A$22bn Carmichael coal mine

PERTH (miningweekly.com) – The A$21.7-billion Carmichael coal and rail project, being developed by Indian major Adani, has secured its final state and federal government approvals, after the Queensland Coordinator-General approved an application for the project’s rail line into Abbot Point.

The approval is for 31.5 km of permanent rail line.

A temporary construction workers camp with 300 beds has also been approved.

“This is another key milestone for the project, which Adani has confirmed it will start construction on next year,” Queensland State Development Minister Dr Anthony Lynham said.

The project already has all primary approvals, as well as prescribed project and critical infrastructure project status in place to reduce red tape.

The rail section approved will form part of the 389 km standard gauge, heavy haul railway line from the mine in the Galilee basin to the coal export port of Abbot Point.

Adani has welcomed the recent approvals, with a company spokesperson telling Mining Weekly Online that the final approvals increased the company’s confidence, and commitment to the project, as it moved closer to the proposed construction start in the September quarter next year.

The proposed Carmichael project will comprise an opencut and underground mine, running for a period of 90 years and producing an average 60-million tonnes a year of thermal coal.

The project, which is still faced with three legal challenges, recently won a Queensland Supreme Court battle, after the court dismissed two challenges to the grant of a mining lease and environmental approvals.