Proposed $1.23bn Esmeralda Graphite Project reaches new milestone

The proposed $1.23 billion Esmeralda Graphite Project in North Queensland has reached a new milestone with the release of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) Terms of Reference (ToR). 

Earlier this year, the Esmeralda development was given a Coordinated Project status which enables the Coordinator-General to facilitate its environmental approvals from the Queensland and Australian Governments. 

The broader community will have the opportunity to provide feedback on the project during the public exhibition of the draft EIS. 

“The Terms of Reference provide a clear framework for Graphinex to prepare a comprehensive EIS that addresses potential environmental, social and economic impacts. 

“The coordinated project declaration delivers a whole of government evaluation of impacts and benefits that the project can deliver, including comprehensive community engagement,” Queensland’s Coordinator-General Gerard Coggan said. 

Graphinex’s Esmeralda Graphite Project is expected to create up to 100 jobs during its construction and about 113 jobs at peak production period once it is operational. 

The Esmeralda project will extract up to 3.5 million tonnes of ore annually, producing approximately 25 million tonnes of graphite concentrate over its projected 50-year life. 

“After a decade of decline under Labor, the Crisafulli Government is finally delivering jobs and investment certainty for Queensland. 

“Our government is about creating lasting economic opportunities for regional Queensland, attracting global interest and positioning the state as a key player in the minerals supply chain. 

“The Crisafulli Government is serious about cutting through red tape and delivering jibs and economic certainty for regional communities,” Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning Jarrod Bleijie said. 

The project is located about 70 kilometres south of Croydon, within the Georgetown mining district. Its proposed key features include: 

• Open-cut graphite mine and processing facilities 

• Solar array and energy storage system with back-up diesel generation 

• Water management infrastructure 

• Mine infrastructure area, mine and product stockpiles and loading areas 

• Access road and internal tracks 

• Accommodation facility, sewage and waste management infrastructure 

Subject to approvals, construction of the Esmeralda Graphite Project is expected to begin in 2027. 

“We’re serious about restoring certainty for the resources sector to deliver a better lifestyle for Queenslanders through a stronger economy. 

“This project has the potential to deliver more than 200 local jobs and underpin decades of economic opportunity in North Queensland. 

“This important milestone shows that by cutting through delays, we’re creating an environment where investors can plan with confidence to create jobs across our regions,” Minister for Natural Resources and Mines Dale Last said. 

Source: Queensland Government – Media Statements; Queensland Government – State Development, Infrastructure and Planning