The Federal Court of Australia has declared the approval of the Carmichael coal mine project in central Queensland invalid, over a bureaucratic bungle over two vulnerable species. The A$16bn (US$12bn) project, developed by Indian group Adani Mining, was approved by the Queensland government in May 2014 and by the Australian government in July 2014. The Federal Ministry of Environment will have to reassess the project, “taking into account the conservation advices and any other information on the impacts of the project”.
The controversial Carmichael project is estimated to hold 10 Gt of coal reserves and should produce 60 Mt/year of thermal coal. Coal production was expected to start in 2017, three years behind the original target, and could be delayed again. The whole project includes the construction of the mine, a 189-km rail line, water supply infrastructures and an airport. Coal should be exported to India from the Abbott Point terminal; the port plan (in partnership with GVK) has already won government's approval.