Adani CEO says mine could start ‘tomorrow’

ADANI CEO Lucas Dow said work on the company’s Carmichael Mine could start “tomorrow” if it received approval from the State Government.

“If we get the nod today, we can start tomorrow and that’s we’re at. We’ve mobilised equipment and we’re ready and willing to go,” Mr Dow said. “We obviously want to get on delivering these jobs in North and Central Queensland.”

Mr Dow said the wait for approval was frustrating but Adani was determined to see the project through.

The Queensland Government has said it would veto any NAIF loans for the Carmichael Mine Project and Adani’s approvals require the cost of infrastructure to be met by the company.

Townsville Enterprise CEO Patricia O’callaghan slammed a Bill put forward by the Greens seeking to ban all coal mining in the Galilee Basin.

She said the ban could have detrimental impacts on the economic future of North Queensland.

“If this Bill was to pass, projects such as the Adani Carmichael Mine and Rail Project would not proceed,” Ms O’callaghan said.

“In addition, there are six other mines that could proceed in the Galilee Basin potentially generating more than 15,000 direct jobs, according to the Queensland Government’s coordinator-general.

“Resources are an important part of our local, state and national economy and the opening of the Galilee Basin after a long and tested environmental approval process will turbocharge jobs, business and confidence for us all – especially North Queensland.”