Construction on $21.7bn Carmichael coal project in QLD to begin in October

Construction on Adani’s $21.7 billion Carmichael coal project in Queensland is set to commence in October 2017, with first shipment expected by March 2020.

“I am proud to announce the project has Final Investment Decision (FID) approval which marks the official start of one of the largest single infrastructure – and job creating – developments in Australia’s recent history,” Adani Chairman Gautam Adani said.

According to Mr Adani, the project is expected to create up to 10,000 direct and indirect jobs. He added that pre-construction works will be underway in September 2017.

Adani’s Regional Headquarters (RHQ) is located in Townsville, where the company is going to oversee the construction and operations of the project as well as accommodate the company’s Remote Operations Centre.

Contracts for design, construction, operations, supply of materials and professional services for this project have been signed as well. The company awarded various contract – valued at more than $150 million – over the past few weeks for railway tracks and concrete sleepers for a 388-kilometre standard gauge rail link which will connect the mine to Abbot Point.

The contracts include:

• $74 million for railway tracks awarded to Arrium Steel from Whyalla
• $84 million for sleepers awarded Austrak from Rockhampton

The contract for the Carmichael Rail Network – which will link the Galilee Basin mines to the port of Abbot Point – has been awarded to AECOM who has a regional base in Townsville. Scope of works under this contract will include surveying and design for the rail link.

“We are building a line that will open the Galilee Basin, linking that massive coal reserve to markets around the world, generating power, and – importantly – generating many thousands of direct and indirect jobs in regional Queensland.

“In Adani’s case, it will link its Carmichael coal mine to our bulk loading facility at the port of Abbot Point from where it will be shipped to Adani’s power stations in India,” Adani’s Head of Country and Chief Executive Jeyakumar Janakaraj said.

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Source: Adani and Australian Mining