The Department of Environment and Science (DES) of the state of Queensland (Australia) has approved Indian coal mining group Adani's management plans for an endangered bird on the site of its Carmichael coal mine project. Adani has just one permit outstanding, related to the source of the Doongmabulla Springs complex, which is expected to be issued by mid-June 2019.
Adani has been struggling for a decade to secure approval for its Carmichael coal mine project in Queensland, which is estimated to hold 10 Gt of coal reserves. The project was first approved by a federal court in 2016 but was delayed in December 2017 after a series of legal challenges. The final investment decision (FID) was made in June 2017 and Adani plans to invest AUD16.5bn (US$11.4bn) in the project. It received Commonwealth approval from the federal government of Australia in April 2019. The project is expected to reach a production level of 25 Mt/year in 2020-2021 and to gradually ramp up to 60 Mt/year of thermal coal from six open-cut pits and five underground mines.