The Federal Environment Minister issued a press release this afternoon announcing he had re-approved the mammoth project, which would also give rise to the largest coal terminal in the world at Abbott Point, near Bowen, adjacent to the Great Barrier Reef, if it goes ahead.
Advertisement
Hunt was forced to redraft the government’s earlier approval for the mine after a court ruled in August it had not taken into account the impact the mine might have on two vulnerable native species – the yakka skink and ornamental snake.
Mumbai, October 15: The Australian government today approved the Adani’s group’s $16.5-billion coal project in Queensland but set a few stiff environmental conditions for its implementation.
“Minister Hunt makes clear that these concerns have been addressed, reflected in rigorous and painstaking conditions”, the company said in a statement.
Hunt said the reissued environmental permit imposed conditions including improving the habitat of an endangered finch, protecting groundwater, and providing A$1 million for conservation research.
There remain questions over funding the 10.6-billion-euro project, which would produce 60 million tons of coal per year.
Such is the level of controversy surrounding the Carmichael project and concern about falling coal prices that banks are refusing to provide Adani the money it will need to turn the proposal into reality.
Australia is already one of the worst offenders when it comes to per capita carbon emissions, and its growing support for coal is likely to raise eyebrows at the meeting.
At the time, Adani said it was confident the “technical error” in the approval process would be rectified and the company was quick to welcome the announcement.
The approval, which includes a rail line, would be “subject to 36 of the strictest conditions in Australian history”.
“Mining and burning this coal will cook the Great Barrier Reef”.
“In making this decision I have considered additional information provided by Adani and environmental groups, including the Mackay Conservation Group, the Environmental Defenders Office and the Australian Conservation Foundation”, Mr Hunt said.
Over 10 global banks, including Adani’s former chief financier for Carmichael, Standard Chartered, and the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, have withdrawn from the project.
The Federal Court case that saw Adani’s approval revoked, brought by the Mackay Conservation Group, was a three-pronged attack.
Minister Hunt’s reapproval of the Carmichael mine is not surprising, given the government’s record for supporting mining and resources projects in Australia.
Advertisement
Knowing what we do about the imperatives of climate change, approving a vast new coal plant on the eve of the Paris Climate Change talks, in complete disregard of its significant greenhouse gas implications, is unethical and, at a global level, indefensible.
