Mine’s plans are on track
THE Carmichael coal mine is one step closer to having coal on the rail line with the delivery of the Bowen Rail Company’s locomotives.
The delivery is a major milestone for the project, which will create thousands of jobs across Central and North Queensland.
Adani Australia chief executive and country head Lucas Dow said the new GT46 locomotives had been shipped in from the United States.
He said the new locos were more fuel-efficient, with only two required to haul 86 wagons instead of three.
Mr Dow said the new locos would spend the next few weeks being prepared, with the first coal expected to be brought from the Carmichael mine through the Port of Abbot Point by the end of the year.
“These are the first of 10 locos we’re going to take,” Mr Dow said.
“We’re going to have four trains running on any given day, it’s around a 23hour cycle, each train carries around 7300 tonnes, so it’s about 85 tonnes per wagon and 86 wagons.
“So it’s going to certainly be enough to be able to carry 10 million, our initial 10 million tonne volume, through to the Abbot Point port.”
Mr Dow said Adani had promised to deliver jobs on the back of support from North and Central Queensland.
“Importantly, these locomotives are going to be stabled in Bowen, so it’s only fitting that, as the Bowen Rail Company, we’re going to see those employment opportunities for locals there,” he said.
Federal Resources Minister Keith Pitt said not only had Bravus paved the way for companies with leases in the Galilee Basin, it had “kicked down the door” and set the standard for other companies.
He said the rail line built from the Bravus mine to the coast would help make it possible to keep expanding mining in the region.
Whitsunday Mayor and LNP Dawson candidate Andrew Willcox said Adani had made a commitment to the region, and this milestone was a step towards delivering on that promise.
“While they’re bringing people out of poverty, they’ve also provided muchneeded jobs for Australia … and they are delivering those locally,” Mr Willcox said. Townsville Mayor Jenny Hill said this was what it meant to bring companies to the North.
“We pushed to have this company here in Queensland, based regionally here in Queensland, and now we’re seeing the results of that with high employment and an improvement in disposable income for the community,” she said.