Indian energy firm Adani Group has secured the final major State and Federal Government approval for its A$21.7bn ($15.1bn) Carmichael coal and rail project in Australia.
The Queensland’s Coordinator-General has approved the 31.5km of permanent rail line and a temporary construction camp for the Carmichael project.
State Development Minister Dr Anthony Lynham said: “This is another key milestone for the project, which Adani has confirmed it will start construction on next year.”
The approved rail section forms part of the 389km standard gauge, heavy haul railway line planned to be built from the mine in the Galilee Basin to the coal export Port of Abbot Point.
The Carmichael mine is planned to be developed with six open-cut and five underground pits, each with a capacity to produce 10Mtpa of product coal at peak production.
According to estimates, the mine holds ten billion tons of JORC-compliant thermal coal resources, including 3.4 billion tons of measured and indicated resources.
In April, the Queensland government granted leases for Indian energy firm Adani Group to proceed with its Carmichael coal mine despite raising concerns for its environmental impact.
Environmentalists had raised concerns that the project could have harmful impact on the Great Barrier Reef.
With an expected operating life of approximately 60 years, the mine is estimated to create 1,075 construction and 3,800 operational jobs, and the railway project is expected to create approximately 1,400 construction and 120 operational jobs.