Idani plans to build rail link to Abbot Point

 

Indian mining giant Adani has proposed building a new 300 kilometers railway to ship coal from its yet to be constructed Carmichael Mine in the Galilee Basin to Abbot Point.

The Referral of Proposed Action for the project was lodged with the Federal Environment Department yesterday. The company already had plans to link on to the existing railway network at Moranbah, however, maps show the new route would leave the linking railway about 100km west of the town, at Mistake Creek.

The announcement has fuelled speculation Adani has deemed it more financially viable to export coal exclusively through Abbot Point, rather than also sending it south to the proposed Dudgeon Point Coal Terminal.

A company spokeswoman said if approved, the railway would transport 100 megatonnes of coal each year. Adani's proposed Carmichael Mine and Rail Project will deliver many benefits to the local, state and national economies.

During construction, the combined mine and rail project is tipped to deliver the equivalent of 378 jobs to the area and a total of 1192 full time jobs across the state. But the move runs against State Government wishes for two multi purpose railway corridors to service Galilee mines.

Source - Dailymercury.com