Indian group Adani Mining is considering withdrawing from the proposed US$21.5bn Carmichael coal mine and rail project in Queensland, in Australia, over delays in the project development.
The A$16bn (US$12bn) project was approved by the Queensland government in May 2014 and by the Australian government in July 2014. The Environment Department of the Queensland government (Australia) gave its final environmental approval in February 2016 but a series of legal challenges by environmental groups against the project have delayed the project; Adani now expects court challenges to be finalised in early 2017 but one court case is yet to be heard in the Federal court and at least two environmental groups are threatening High Court action. The group may abandon the projects after six years of legal battle.
The controversial Carmichael project is estimated to hold 10 Gt of coal reserves and should produce 60 Mt/year of thermal coal. Coal production is expected to start in 2017, three years behind the original target. Adani initially planned to complete the approval process in two to three years.