Queensland Parliament has agreed that Indian-based Adani should be granted approval for A$21.7bn ($16bn) Carmichael coal project in the north of Galilee Basin, Australia.
The news follows Adani finalising a compensation deal with Isaac Regional Council in February 2016, clearing another hurdle for the mine.
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State Development and Natural Resources and Mines Minister Anthony Lynham said that the parliament agreed a motion that all state government approvals should be provided for the project to help create jobs in North and Central Queensland.
Lynham said: "The government strongly supports the sustainable development of the Galilee Basin for the jobs and economic development it could provide for regional Queensland.
"For that reason the government and the independent coordinator general have been working closely with Adani to facilitate their approvals in accordance with statutory obligations."
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Lynham added mining leases for the project could only be approved upon reaching compensation agreements.
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By GlobalDataThe statement noted that the Queensland Government would also stick to a pledge that dredging for the Abbot Point coal terminal should not proceed until the company demonstrates it has the necessary funding in place for the entire mine, rail and road project.
The project approval attracted opposition from Greenpeace Australia, which said in August 2015 that if built, the Carmichael mine would require expansion of Abbot Point port, dredging in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area.
This is expected to create 121 million tonnes of greenhouse gas a year at full production.
Greenpeace climate and energy campaigner Nikola Casule said: "Until the mining licence for Carmichael and the other Galilee mines are off the table, the Great Barrier Reef remains under threat from the carbon bomb that Galilee would release."
Image: Satellite image of part of the Great Barrier Reef adjacent to the Queensland coastal areas of Airlie Beach and Mackay. Photo: courtesy of Nasa.
