PERTH (miningweekly.com) – Queenslanders have been urged to comment on the draft environmental-impact statement (EIS) for the A$6.7-billion China Stone coal project, being proposed by MacMines Austasia.
State Development Minister Anthony Lynham said the project would provide up to 3 900 jobs during the proposed two-year construction phase and up to 3 400 positions once operational.
The site is located about 300 km west of Mackay, north of and adjacent to the proposed Carmichael coal mine, in Central Queensland, and would involve the construction and operation of a greenfield openpit and underground thermal coal mine within a 20 000 ha mining lease area.
“The project could realise significant economic and social benefits on a regional, state and national scale with the capacity to produce up to 38-million tonnes a year of product coal,” Lynham said.
The project was expected to have a mine life of some 50 years and construction was expected to start in 2016, with first coal expected two years later.
By year 32 of operations, the mine would convert from an opencut operation to an underground operation.
“Once operational, the mine is estimated to contribute A$5.9-billion to the Queensland and Australian revenue through coal royalties over the 50-year life of the mine.”
Public comment on the EIS would be open until September 7.