Mining giant Bravus admits it underestimated green attack

The lengths that environmentalists took to stop Bravus’ Carmichael mine in central Queensland has been revealed by the boss of the huge operation.

Bravus boss Samir Vora says tough job launching mine in Bowen Basin.

Never underestimate the funding or organisation of the radical environmental movement.

We have seen New Hope’s New Acland coal mine delayed for well over a decade by publicly-funded legal actions by environmentalists.

But the lengths the greenies took to stop Bravus’ huge Carmichael mine in the North Galilee Basin, including blockades and chaining themselves to machinery, takes the cake.

Bravus executive director Samir Vora last week revealed the difficulties of getting the mine, which employs more than 1500 people, off the ground.

“It was quite painful because it took nine long years from the day we acquired the mine to get the approval to construct,” Vora told a Courier Mail forum on the resources sector. “Frankly speaking, we underestimated the whole process when we did the acquisition.

“The activism grew significantly and we underestimated how well-funded they are, how good they are in spreading lies and how good they are at distorting facts. So it became quite difficult for us as the activism grew and the support started decreasing. The government started withdrawing the support for the project.”

An activist protests against the Bravus Mine near Belyando Crossing.

He says one example of misleading distortions from greenies was that the mine, formerly known as Adani, was going to “somehow smother the Great Barrier Reef.”

“So there are thousands of ships carrying coal (in the area) but somehow we have some magic in our ships and there will be some waves and the coal will spill out of the boat and smother the reef.” Vora jokes he came into the job “with black hair and now I am grey.”

Green activism is not the only hurdle facing mining activity in Queensland, with the setor complaining the new royalty regime introducted by the State Government is also stifling new development. With those royalties helping bankroll big government spending projects, good luck in getting a political party of any persuasion to roll them back, regardless of who wins the upcoming Queensland election.

Procurement promotions

Some movement at Brisbane-based management consultancy firm Procurement Co. Harry Jones and Erik Pountain have been promoted to consultant while Lauren Hilder-Darling has been named senior consultant. Chris Handley meanwhile has been promoted to manager, and Amy Crisafulli to senior manager. The promotions come as Procurement Co, which provides specialist procurement and probity consultancy services to large private sector firms, recently opened a Melbourne office. In the last financial year, the firm delivered over 250 procurement projects, with a total value of contracts awarded over $2.5bn. The home-grown company also has been nominated for a big award at the upcoming CIPS ANZ Excellence in Procurement Awards 2024 later this month. Watch this space.

Hot property

South-East Queensland- based property development group Atrio has announced the elevation of Jaryd Collins to the role of general manager development.

The business, which in five years has grown from a lounge room start-up with two projects, to a team of 12 with more than 20 current projects and pipeline valued at more than $500 million, says it is now perfectly positioned for the next phase of its growth.

Since joining Atrio last year, Collins has been working to bring a number of projects to market, including two significant master-planned communities west of Brisbane.

With 20 years’ experience in property development, Collins has substantial knowledge of site acquisitions and design, project positioning, development, budgeting and construction.