September 08, 2008

Queensland coal expansion wins environmental approval

It is reported that Gladstone Ports Corporation, the authority for the largest port in Australia's Queensland State, has won final environmental approval for the expansion of a coal export harbor.

Mr Peter Garrett Federal Environment Minister has signed off on the environmental impact study for Wiggins Island Coal Terminal, an expansion of Gladstone port's coal terminal. Which is follows the Queensland government's approval earlier this year.

Ms Anna Bligh Premier of Queensland said that 16 mining companies have made initial bids for capacity at the terminal. She said the terminal would open in 2012 to 2013, employing 500 people in construction and 130 in operation. She added that the first AUD 1.3 billion stage of the expansion would boost Gladstone's coal exports by a third or 25 million tonnes and generate up to AUD 1.8 billion annually.

Mr Paul Lucas Infrastructure Minister said the expansion would take Gladstone's port to its limit handling 75 million tonnes of coal each year. He said "I think it's unlikely that there will be further coal port development there at Gladstone."

The report added the project which got environmental approval from the state government in January will require AUD 500 million of investment to upgrade railways to transport coal to the new terminal.