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| Adani Carmichael coal mine | |
|---|---|
| Name | Carmichael coal mine |
| Official name | Carmichael Mine (Rail and Port project) |
| Location | Galilee Basin, Queensland, Australia |
| Coordinates | 20°58′S 147°15′E |
| Owner | Adani Group |
| Products | Thermal coal |
| Opening | 2020s (phased) |
| Status | Operational / Expansion proposed |
Adani Carmichael coal mine is a large thermal coal mining project in the Galilee Basin of Queensland, Australia. Proposed and constructed by the Adani Group through its Australian subsidiary, the project involves open-cut and underground mining, a private rail corridor, and port logistics intended to export coal via the Great Barrier Reef shipping routes. The proposal has been central to national and international debates involving environmental law, Indigenous land rights, finance by multinational banks and insurers, and Australian energy policy.
The project was proposed by Adani Group founder Gautam Adani and managed by Adani Mining with advisory input from firms including PricewaterhouseCoopers, KPMG, and Ernst & Young. The mine targets the Carmichael coal deposit in the Galilee Basin near Clermont, Queensland and Alpha, Queensland, requiring a rail link to the Port of Abbot Point near Bowen, Queensland. Key approvals involved the Queensland Government (including ministers from the Liberal National Party of Queensland), the Australian Government under administrations led by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Prime Minister Scott Morrison, and environmental assessments overseen by the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment. Financial participation and underwriting were sought from international institutions such as the Export–Import Bank of India, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, ANZ, and overseas lenders in Japan and China.
Early exploration dates to companies like Linc Energy and GVK Hancock, with the project later acquired by the Adani Group in the 2010s. Key milestones include approvals in 2014–2015, construction contracts awarded to firms such as GAP Group and BMD Group, and staged commissioning in the late 2010s and early 2020s. Infrastructure milestones included line-of-route decisions intersecting properties owned by pastoralists such as the Hancock family's enterprises and logistical coordination with Port of Abbot Point operators. Political endorsements and federal environmental rulings under ministers including Greg Hunt and judicial decisions in courts like the Federal Court of Australia shaped the timeline. Shipping consignments have interfaced with international customers in India and Vietnam.
Environmental impact statements were produced amid scrutiny by organisations such as the Australian Conservation Foundation, World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), and Australian Marine Conservation Society. Concerns highlighted potential effects on the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area, habitat for species listed under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 including the flatback turtle, the green turtle, and the black-throated finch. Assessments examined water drawdown risks to the Doongmabulla Springs (also known as the Mound Springs), intersecting expert testimony from scientists affiliated with CSIRO, University of Queensland, and James Cook University. Additional scrutiny came from international bodies such as the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the United Nations Environment Programme via advocacy groups.
Traditional Owner groups including the Wangan and Jagalingou people contested native title and cultural heritage outcomes, engaging advocates such as Meriba Omasker Kunal, legal counsel from firms like Maurice Blackburn, and representatives connected to national Indigenous organisations including the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission successors. Negotiations implicated native title mechanisms under the Native Title Act 1993 and Indigenous Land Use Agreements (ILUAs) lodged with the National Native Title Tribunal. Pastoralists, local councils such as the Isaac Regional Council, and community groups in towns like Townsville and Rockhampton have been parties to consultation, compensation arrangements, and public submissions.
Litigation involved actions in courts including the Federal Court of Australia, the Queensland Land Court, and appeals to administrative tribunals like the Administrative Appeals Tribunal. Key legal actors included law firms such as King & Wood Mallesons and litigation funds and NGOs such as Environmental Justice Australia and The Australian Conservation Foundation which mounted challenges based on the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and state-level planning laws. International legal attention involved shareholder resolutions in companies like HSBC, Barclays, and BNP Paribas, and complaints to organisations such as the International Finance Corporation (IFC) by civil society groups over financing conduct.
Proponents including trade bodies like the Queensland Resources Council, Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and political representatives from the Liberal Party of Australia argued the project would create jobs during construction and operations and generate export revenue to markets such as India and Southeast Asia. Economic analyses referenced by advocates included modelling from institutions like the Reserve Bank of Australia and fiscal projections presented to state treasuries, with disputed claims about long-term operational jobs, royalties payable to the Queensland Treasury, and regional infrastructure benefits. Critics cited studies by independent economists at Griffith University and think tanks like the Australia Institute to question projected employment and fiscal returns.
The project catalysed national and international activism from groups such as Extinction Rebellion, Lock the Gate Alliance, Friends of the Earth, and student movements aligned with School Strike 4 Climate and Fridays for Future. High-profile protests appeared in cities including Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, and international demonstrations in London and New Delhi targeting financiers such as Deutsche Bank and Standard Chartered. Civil disobedience, sustained campaigns by NGOs like GetUp!, and strategic litigation by environmental law organisations shaped public discourse, while opinion pieces in media outlets including The Australian Financial Review, The Guardian (London), and The New York Times framed international perspectives.
Category:Coal mines in Queensland Category:Adani Group Category:Galilee Basin