Indian environmental group, the Conservation Action Trust (CAT), has objected in the Land Court of Queensland to the approval of Indian giant Adani’s 60 million tonne per annum Carmichael coalmine.
The proposed project, planned for Queensland’s Galilee Basin, would be Australia’s largest coal mine.
The objection is set down for a directions hearing in the Land Court today, 9 October 2014, at 3pm. CAT will be represented by Environmental Justice Australia.
CAT submits that approval of the Carmichael mine is not in the public interest, and is contrary to the principles of Ecologically Sustainable Development.
Debi Goenka, executive trustee of the CAT, said: “ We believe that Queensland should not approve Adani’s mine. The coal from Carmichael, when burnt in India, threatens the health and livelihoods of poor rural people in India.”
“These people can’t afford the electricity that will be generated – all they’ll get will be damage to their health and the air, water, land and natural resource base on which their survival depends. Mr Goenka continued.
“CAT’s objection to the Carmichael mine is the first instance of an international party objecting to a coal mine in Australia.” said Brendan Sydes, CEO of Environmental Justice Australia.
Conservation Action Trust objection to Adani coal mine
Carmichael coal mine
This proposed coal mine would be Australia’s biggest, mining an area 60km by 13km. It is planned that it would export 60 million tonnes per year of thermal coal from Queensland’s remote Galilee Basin to India, via the Port of Abbot Point in the Great Barrier Reef.
Adani
Adani is an India-based international resources, logistics and energy company owned by billionaire Guatam Adani, with coal mining interests in India, Indonesia and Australia. A ‘vertically-integrated’ company, it also has significant interests in ports, including the largest privately owned port in India at Mundra in Gujarat, and in coal power stations in India, including a huge 4.620 MW power station at Mundra with several more planned. Adani proposes to export the coal mined at Carmichael to India for burning in the company’s power stations via its Terminal 0 coal port at Abbot Point, near Bowen on the Great Barrier Reef coast. The coal will be transported to Abbot Point via the company’s proposed 300 km North Galilee Basin Rail project.
About CAT
The Conservation Action Trust is a registered non-profit organization formed to protect the environment. CAT is dedicated to provide assistance in the form of technical information, legal advice, aid and equipment to all those who are confronting environmental problems.
About EJA
Environmental Justice Australia is the environment’s legal team. We use the law to protect our environment, and we work to change our laws to make sure they protect our rights to clean air, clean water and healthy ecosystems.