Adani’s Carmichael mega mine set for environmental approval

QUEENSLAND’S most ambitious mining project, which promises thousands of jobs to depressed regional cities, still has to clear an obstacle course before it can finally extract coal.

QUEENSLAND’S most ambitious mining project, which promises thousands of jobs to depressed regional cities, still has to clear an obstacle course before it can extract coal from the Galilee Basin.

And State Environment Minister Steven Miles has insisted that, despite his department granting environmental authority to Adani to extract coal at the Carmichael Mine west of Bowen, Queensland’s future rests with green energy.

“Our future lies in homegrown clean energy,’’ Mr Miles said.

“At the Paris climate talks last year the world united for the first time behind the goal of keeping global warming well below two degrees.’’

Mr Miles said that as global efforts to reduce carbon pollution increased, the demand for coal inevitably decreased.

“But there will continue to be some demand for Queensland’s coal as the world transitions to clean energy sources, especially metallurgical coal used in the steel manufacturing process which accounts for 75 per cent of Queensland’s coal exports.

“The coal export industry will continue to provide jobs and economic opportunities for Queenslanders in the foreseeable future.’’

Despite the environmental approval received late yesterday, Indian-based Adani still needs approval for three mining leases to begin its $16.5 billion project west of Bowen.

The mine is expected to produce up to 60 million tonnes of thermal coal a year for sale in Asian electricity markets including Adani’s own generators in India.

The Abbot Point coal port, which would service Adani's proposed Carmichael coalmine project.

The mine, expected to produce thousands of jobs in both construction and production phases, would also ease rising unemployment in major regional centres including Mackay and Townsville which are struggling with the mining downturn.

Adani must also demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Queensland Government that it has financial backing for its project before crucial expansion at Abbot Point north of Bowen is allowed to proceed.

“No taxpayer funding has been or will be provided to this project – as we promised during the election campaign,’’ Mr Miles said.

“Queenslanders can be confident that if the mine does ultimately go ahead, it will be governed by strict environmental conditions.’’

Queensland Environment Minister Dr Steven Miles insists Queensland’s future rests with green energy. Picture: Jack Tran

Mr Miles said he was working on a strategy to help the state understand the impacts of global warming on our lifestyle, economy, environment and communities.

“I look forward to sharing more information about this with you all and receiving your input as the work progresses.’’

OVERNIGHT: The $16.5 billion Adani Carmichael coal mine has cleared a significant hurdle with the State Government granting environmental authority for the massive project to proceed.

The green light was given late yesterday afternoon and represents a major step towards the creation of the mining project, west of Bowen, which is expected to generate thousands of jobs.

Adani welcomed the approval and called for the State Government to work with it to ensure no further delays in the final steps to getting the mega-mine project into action.

The Government has placed 140 conditions on its Environmental Authority.

Four alone relate to the protection of the black throated finch – a tiny 12cm bird believed to be extinct in NSW and which environmentalists say will be put at risk by the mine.

Adani, expected to produce up to 60 million tonnes of thermal coal a year for sale in Asian electricity markets including Adani’s own generators in India, is also still required to secure a mining lease.

The Abbot Point coal port, which would service Adani's proposed Carmichael coalmine project.

But Adani will see the green light as a significant victory after six years fighting its way through the approvals process.

Adani faced a major setback last year when the Mackay Conservation Group successfully launched a Federal Court action under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, challenging Federal Environment Minister Greg Hunt’s approval.

The Australian Conservation Foundation said last night the Palaszczuk Labor Government had failed the public and the environment by granting the Environmental Authority.

“If it goes ahead, the Carmichael coal mine would create billions of tonnes of pollution, making climate change worse and irreversibly damaging the Great Barrier Reef,” said ACF’s CEO Kelly O’Shanassy.

“Some of the world’s most respected scientists, including Sir David Attenborough and the University of Queensland’s Ove Hoegh-Guldberg, have highlighted the damage climate change, driven by coal-burning, is doing to the Reef.”

Greenpeace spokeswoman Shani Tager said: “Environment Minister Steven Miles was elected on the promise of protecting the Reef, but just one year later, he’s picked coal over coral.”

An Adani spokesman said last night: “While a welcome development, it is now critical that the State Government works actively with us and ensures no further delays can be made to final approvals such as the granting of a mining lease.”