Byerwen Coal Mine

[colinw]

Another 10 million tonnes a year for the Newlands - Abbott Point system.

Ministerial release:
http://www.cabinet.qld.gov.au/mms/StatementDisplaySingle.aspx?id=73804

Further details:
http://www.dip.qld.gov.au/projects/mining-and-mineral-processing/coal/byerwen-coal.html

Treasurer and Minister for State Development and Trade
The Honourable Andrew Fraser

Wednesday, March 02, 2011

Proposed coal mine declared a significant project

TOKYO: Treasurer and Minister for State Development and Trade Andrew Fraser today welcomed the Coordinator-General's decision to declare the proposed Byerwen coal mine a 'significant project'.

In Tokyo on a trade mission, Mr Fraser today briefed JFE Steel, joint developer of the project with QCoal, on the Coordinator-General's decision.

"Japan-based JFE Steel is one of Queensland's largest export customers, and has long supported the Queensland economy," Mr Fraser said.

"The joint venture with QCoal proposes a coal mine located at a Greenfield site in the northern Bowen Basin, approximately 140km west of Mackay, near the mining townships of Collinsville and Glenden.

"Today's decision by the Coordinator-General now allows JFE Steel and QCoal to start work on the project's Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).

"The proposed $1.5 billion project is expected to produce up to ten million tonnes per annum of high-quality, metallurgical coking coal primarily for the Japanese and Asian export market over a lifespan of 50 years.

"Up to 500 jobs could be created during construction and up to 1000 jobs at its full operational stage.

"If approved, this will be a substantial investment for Queensland and will ensure the longer-term future of townships in the area that rely on mining for their survival."

Mr Fraser said the proposed project would be both an open-cut coal mine and an underground mine and would use existing rail facilities to move the coal to the export terminal at Abbot Point.

Construction of the open-cut mine and underground mine could commence as early as 2012 following state and federal approvals.

Coordinator-General Keith Davies said a significant project declaration is not an indication of approval or support of the project, rather the start of the EIS process.

"This declaration is recognition of the significant complexity of the proposed project," Mr Davies said.

"It marks the start of a rigorous and thorough assessment of the proposed project, which will consider the project's environmental, economic and social impacts.

"The next step for Byerwen Coal is the preparation of draft Terms of Reference for the EIS. These will be circulated to key stakeholders and advertised for public comment in the coming months."

For more information on the Byerwen Coal Project, visit www.dip.qld.gov.au/projects

[Golliwog]

Maybe they'll need more than just the extra passing loops being added as part of the GAP project? Although I think they were also making the new ones as long loops and extended the existing loops to cope with longer trains than the Newlands line currently takes.

[colinw]

At the rate projects are being developed, I think the Newlands system is going to require partial duplication and probably electrification as well within 5 - 10 years.

Well, as long as Queensland retains its role as "chief greenhouse pusher to the world" it will, if the world weans itself off coal one day then Central QLD will become well endowed with rail trails