Carmichael coal mine
| Location | |
|---|---|
| Location | about 160 km northwest of Clermont |
| Queensland | |
| Country | Australia |
| Production | |
| Products | Thermal coal |
| Type | Open-pit, underground |
| Owner | |
| Company | Adani Group |
The Carmichael coal mine is a proposed thermal coal mine in the north of the Galilee Basin in Central Queensland, Australia. It is expected to produce 60 million tonnes of coal a year and become the largest coal mine in Australia. Mining is planned to be conducted by both open-cut and underground methods.[1]
It is owned by Adani Mining, a wholly owned subsidiary of India's Adani Group. The development represents a $16.5 billion investment.[2] The mine is expected to have an operating life of approximately 90 years.[1] In total the mine is expected to extract 4 billion tonnes of coal resource. Exports are to leave the country via port facilities at Hay Point and Abbot Point after being transported to the coast via rail.[1] A new rail line is to be built which will connect with the existing Goonyella railway line. Most of the exported coal is planned to be shipped to India.
The mine has been staunchly opposed on environmental grounds. Broadly these have been described as its potential impact upon the Great Barrier Reef, groundwater at its site and it carbon emissions.[3]
Location
The mining lease mostly covers the Moray Downs cattle station.[4] The majority of the mine lies within the Isaac Region, with a small portion in the Charters Towers Region local government area.[2] Road access is made by the Gregory Developmental Road, an undeveloped section of the Gregory Highway.[4]
History
On 8 May 2014, Queensland’s Coordinator-General gave approval for the project to proceed.[5] 190 conditions were set by the state during both construction and operations phases of the mine with particular attention paid to groundwater and water bores which may be potentially affected.[5]
On the 29 July 2014, federal Minister for Environment, Greg Hunt gave approval for the mine to proceed. Federal approval was granted after 36 conditions were stipulated.[6]
In early September 2014, it was reported the plan to dump dredge spoil on the Great Barrier Reef had been scrapped.[7][8] The plan to dump the spoil at sea was widely rejected on the grounds that the fragile coral and seagrass ecosystem could be damaged. Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority scientists had opposing the dumping plan.[8]
Operations
The mine is planned to contain six open-cut pits and five underground mines.[2]
Operations at the mine are expected to consume 12 billion litres of water each year.[6] According to the mine’s environmental impact statement it will produce 200 million tonnes of carbon dioxide over the expected 60-year life of the mine.[9] This includes gases produced during the mining process and from emissions created from the mining and transportation of the coal. The burning of that coal has been estimated to produce another 130 m tonnes of carbon dioxide every year.[9]
Rail line
A new 189 kilometre railway line is needed to transport coal to port facilities. The line will join the existing Goonyella railway line at Moranbah.[2]
Port expansion
The mine requires a significant expansion of port facilities. Deutsche Bank and HSBC declined to fund the Abbott Point port expansion due to environmental concerns affecting their reputation.[6]
See also
References
- ^ a b c "Carmichael Coal Mine and Rail Project". Adani Mining. Retrieved 2 August 2014.
- ^ a b c d "Carmichael Coal Mine and Rail Project: Project Overview". Completed EIS projects. Department of State Development, Infrastructure and Planning. 9 July 2014. Retrieved 2 August 2014.
- ^ Oliver Milman (28 July 2014). "Largest coal mine in Australia: federal government gives Carmichael go-ahead". theguardian. Guardian News and Media. Retrieved 2 August 2014.
- ^ a b "Mine location". Adani Mining. Retrieved 2 August 2014.
- ^ a b "Coordinator-General decides on Galilee Mine". Media Statement. Department of the Premier and Cabinet. 8 May 2014. Retrieved 2 August 2014.
- ^ a b c Ben Hagemann (29 July 2014). "Carmichael coal mine means more jobs, less water for Queensland". Australian Mining. Cirrus Media. Retrieved 2 August 2014.
- ^ Ben Hagemann (2 September 2014). "Abbott Point dredge dumping plans on the rocks". Mining Australia. Cirrus Media. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
- ^ a b Oliver Milman (2 September 2014). "Abbot Point port developers to ditch Great Barrier Reef seabed dumping pla". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
- ^ a b Lenore Taylor (14 January 2015). "Federal court asked to overturn Adani mine approval due to impact on Great Barrier Reef". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 January 2015.