Adani‘s plan to expand its coal terminal at Queensland’s Abbot Point is inching closer to becoming a reality with the Queensland Government referring the dredging of Abbot Point to the Federal Government for environmental assessment as the next step in the project’s development.
State Development Minister and Natural Resources and Mines Minister Anthony Lynham said the referral marked a significant milestone for the Carmichael mine and removed a major obstacle for the creation of thousands of jobs in Queensland’s Galilee coal projects.
“The referral is a significant milestone for the project and demonstrates the Palaszczuk Government’s commitment to supporting business and industry in creating jobs. At the same time, we are keeping our commitment to Queenslanders to not allow dredge spoil dumping on the Great Barrier Reef or in the Caley Valley Wetlands,” he said in a media statement.
“The approval process for the Abbot Point port expansion will be a comprehensive and thorough process. I want to assure Queenslanders that we will always balance economic development, environmental protection and the public interest as we progress this, and any, project.”
He said Adani’s Carmichael Coal Project and related coal, rail and port projects in the Galilee Basin represented a $21.7 billion investment in Queensland which would create about 9,500 jobs, adding that mine proponents – not taxpayers – would meet dredging and approvals costs.
“Unlike the Newman government, we won’t be expecting taxpayers to pay for the environmental assessment. We welcome Adani’s commitment to date to developing this valuable coal deposit and the related infrastructure,” the Minister said.
“Expanding Abbot Point is an essential building block in Queensland’s economic development, allowing it to meet export requirements from Galilee Basin projects.”
Adani Australia welcomed the Queensland Government’s announcement of dredging referral, saying it ensured that the company was one step closer to delivering substantial economic benefits to the state as part of its plan to build a long term future with Queensland.
“Today’s announcement reflects the government’s clear appreciation of the fact that vital job creating projects can proceed in Queensland subject to world’s best practice environmental approvals. Both the state and federal governments have listened to the community in North Queensland throughout our nearly five year long approvals process – they know this isn’t rushed,” said Adani Australia CEO Jeyakumar Janakaraj in a press release.
“They know these jobs are needed. Today, Annastacia Palaszczuk and Anthony Lynham are telling people in Bowen and throughout Central and North Queensland they are committed to making new jobs and all of our projects a reality, in initiating this final dredging approvals process.”
Adani also said its transition from the approvals phase to the build phase of its mine, rail and port projects in Queensland has involved the strictest environmental approvals ever handed down under the federal environmental approvals regime.
“Adani has consistently said it will be guided by the best science and best advice from approving authorities on the dredging to help deliver the port’s expansion,” said Adani Abbot Point CEO Sandeep Mehta.
