NEW Delhi, Dec 03 :
The controversial Carmichael Coal Project proposed by Adani Group promoted Adani Mining in the coal-rich Galilee Basin of Queensland in Australia, is set to see the light of the day soon, after a long wait of five years, the Australian government officials have confirmed.
Australian Minister of Resources, Matthew Jones Canavan is confident that the long pending project will take off early next year, before the elections in the country. Australian federal elections could take place anytime from Australia Day (January 26, 2019) onwards (and before May 18, 2019).
“From Commonwealth government’s perspective, we have always supported the Adani project and will continue to do so,” Canavan told DH.
Yet another minister from Australia’s federal government said the government has granted a conditional approval to the rescaled project by Gautam Adani-owned Adani Mining.
“My understanding is that the Carmichael project has essentially received all necessary environmental approvals. But some particular plans need to be approved within the conditions of the operation that have been granted to date. Structure of both at State level and Federal level is that they have received conditional approvals and there is need to demonstrate that they are meeting the elements of those conditions,” Simon Birmingham, Australia’s Federal Minister of Trade said. Adani Group has proposed to carry out coal mining at Galilee basin in Central Queenlsand. The company acquired the mine in 2010 and has not been able to commence operations due to legal hurdles.
Most projects in Australia are granted conditional approvals, that are focussed towards management plans. According to government officials, the company’s plans include dust management, groundwater management, and native bird management.
Canavan confirmed that Adani group has submitted those plans in the last few weeks and are with federal and state governments for assessment. “Almost always, those plans work through the governments and the approval is granted because the overall approval has already been granted,” he said.
As per the rescaling of the project, the Adani Group has junked the earlier plan of connecting the mine to the port, by developing a 388 km long railway line.
The group is expected to construct only 189 km of the railway line that will connect the mine with the existing railway line.
Also, the coal mine was earlier projected to produce 60 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) with initial production of 40 mtpa every year but the company will now scale down the operations. The project is expected to create 3,100 jobs for the locals.
