Adani decision on Carmichael mine in limbo: Aus Consul General

According to the Consul General of Australia Tony Huber, who is visiting Vadodara, Adani Group still has to take a decision on starting work on Carmichael mine, the country's largest coal mine.

The company did not comply with its March deadline for securing financing for the first stage of the mine, in Queensland, Australia.

"The needed approvals for the project have already been granted to Adani in this regard," Huber told PTI in an interview yesterday.

The Adani Group has already reached an agreement with Queensland government on the mine of royalties, he added.

The Carmichael coal mine is a proposed thermal coal mine in the north of theGalilee basin in Central Queensland, Australia.

The project has been delayed for years due to numerous court challenges from green groups concerned about climate change and potential damage to the Great Barrier Reef.

Mining is planned to be conducted by both open-cut and underground methods. The development by Adani Mining, a wholly-owned subsidiary of India's Adani Group, represents a USD 16.5bn investment.

"Thecontroversy over the mines is finished and Adani can start work on it," said Huber, adding it is completely a commercial decision, and Australia shares a common concern of 'unemployment' with India.

The controversy was regardingits claimed economic benefits, its financial viability, plans for government subsidy and the damaging environmental impacts.

All decisions related to Adani Groups Carmichael coal mine and rail project were "totally commercial" with "potential benefits", he observed.

"We have consistently supported business and investments coming to Australia. It is on record that we have supported the investment proposals of Adani and have worked to make sure the interest of the communities that the government is responsible for as well as the potential business that may come from it can be realised," he said.

At peak capacity the mine would produce 60million tonne of coal a year, much of it "low quality, high ash".

Adani expects the mine to produce 2.3 billion tonne over 60 years. It would be the largest coal mine in Australia and one of the largest in the world.

Exports are to leave the country via port facilities at Hay Pointand Abbot Point after being transported to the coast via rail. The proposal includes a new 189km rail line to connect with the existing Goonyella railway line.Most of the exported coal is planned to be shipped to India.

Huber and his team vice-consul Timothy Hall, and Ramya Kapoor, research officer from Australian consulate-general office from Mumbai are on a visit to Vadodara, Surat and Ahmedabad to interact with business communities and students communities for strengthening ties in education, agriculture tourism and other activities related to investments.