In yet another boost for Gujarat-based Adani Group, the Queensland State of Australia has granted permission for Adani Mining Pty Ltd.’s $2 billion North Galilee Basin Rail Project, a 311.6 km railway line that would link Carmichael Coal Mines of Adani group in Galilee Basin to the east coast port of Abbot Point, also owned by the Adanis.
The Adani Group had acquired Abbot Point port for $2 billion in 2011 and prior to that they had acquired the coal mines in central Queensland for $2.7 billion in 2010. Now, with the proposed rail line connecting the mines and the port has received government approval, the Adanis will seamlessly access coal from the Australian mines for their power plants in India.
The Carmichael coal mine is spread over 44,700 hectares and the Adanis have power plants in India that are dependent on imported coal. At present, Adani Power’s capacity has exceeded 10,000 MW after the acquisition of a power plant from Lanco Infratech and there is plan to expand the capacity to 20,000 MW in six years. The rail line was the only missing link for the imported fuel to arrive in India. The proposed standard gauge rail line is expected to transport 100 million tonnes of coal annually. The mines are expected to open in 2017 and Korean conglomerate Posco has been entrusted with the task to construct the rail link.
The project now requires the federal government of Australia to grant its approval under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act which is expected by September 30.
“The multi-billion dollar coal projects proposed for the Galilee Basin have the potential to create the next wave of resource sector jobs in Queensland and dramatically boost our State’s coal exports,” said Jeff Seeney, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for State Development, Infrastructure & Planning, Queensland in statement.
“Up to 2,400 jobs could be created following the approval. It is yet another key decision in unlocking the resource-rich Galilee Basin for the benefit of all Queenslanders,” the statement said.
The rail line is expected to take two years to be completed. Adani has been asked to adhere to highest environmental standards while laying the rail line.
“Adani must develop an agreement with each affected landholder that stipulates how access will be maintained to homesteads, stock feeding access and water supply,” Mr. Seeney said.
Last month, the Adani Group had received environmental clearance from the Australian government to develop a 60 million tonne per annum thermal coal mine in the north Galilee Basin in Central Queensland.
