The Australian government may seek public opinion once again, if required, before giving environmental clearance to Adani Group's proposal to build a rail line to transport coal from its Carmichael Coal Mine in Queensland to port.
The initial public opinion sought for the project was open till June 14 and the proposal is being studied under National Environment Law, said an official of the Australian Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities (DSEWPC).
"The Department is currently looking at the Adani North Galilee Basin rail proposal to see whether it needs to be assessed under national environment law.
"If it does need approval under national environment law, it will be subjected to a thorough environmental assessment that will include another opportunity for public comment," the spokesperson of DSEWPC said in an emailed response.
In a referral of proposed action (an environmental assessment) submitted to the Ministry, Adani said it proposed to build 300 km of standard gauge line with an operational capacity to transport 100 MTPA (million tonnes per annum) of coal and connect the Galilee Basin with the Port of Abbot Point.
According to the referral, the initial output from the Carmichael Mine is expected in 2016.
The mine has an expected life span of 90 years and the rail infrastructure being developed will be required to support the operations for the duration. "Construction of the rail project is expected to commence in 2014 and completed within approximately two years. Operation of the project will coincide with completion of construction and commencement of Carmichael Mine output, currently expected in 2016," the referral said.
Adani also said they cannot use the proposed rail line being planned by another Indian infra giant GVK in Galilee basin for its Alpha Coal project. GVK's project faces uncertainty with regard to time frame.
"As such opportunities for co-use of the railway are limited. The Alpha Railway, besides being a much longer route to Abbot Point from the northern Galilee Basin, traverses through the large flood plains of the Suttor and Bogie Rivers, which pose serious challenges for construction and maintainability of a heavy haul rail operation.
"Further, uncertainty with regard to time frames and commitments around construction of the Alpha Project are a constraint to adoption of this proposal," the referral said.
Adani Chief Executive Officer Australia, Harsh Mishra in a statement earlier had said the Ahmedabad-based group has already made a significant investment in Australia and the thermal coal mine that will produce up to 60 Mtpa will have to be transported by rail to the port for export. "Our new proposed rail project will help to solve the current lack of infrastructure and capacity to transport coal from the Galilee Basin," Mishra said in the statement.
"Adani is also willing to work with other proponents to help transport the coal from the Galilee Basin to the port," he added.
