Australia approves first coal mine in a year, despite climate concerns
COAL & MINING

Australia approves first coal mine in a year, despite climate concerns

Australia's centre-left Labor government has approved a new coal mine for the first time since it won power a year ago, sparking an angry reaction from environmental groups. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's government has authorised Bowen Coking Coal's Isaac River mine project in Queensland to extract metallurgical coal for making steel.

The mine is relatively small in scale, but it is the first new coal mine to be given the go-ahead by the government, which won many voters over by promising to slash planet-warming carbon emissions after a decade of Australian foot-dragging on climate action.

A spokesperson for Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek said that the government had to make decisions in accordance with the facts and the national environment law. She said that the government had doubled renewable energy approvals to a record high since the election, and that it would continue to consider each project on a case-by-case basis under the law.

The Australian Conservation Foundation criticised the decision, saying that it ignored climate science. The foundation's climate expert Gavan McFadzean said that the world's climate scientists had all been clear for years that we must immediately stop digging up and burning coal if we want a safe climate. He said that wherever in the world our coal and gas is burnt, it makes climate damage in Australia worse.

Bowen Coking Coal welcomed the decision, saying that it was there to meet the growing demand for energy and steelmaking coal.

Australia's economy is fuelled by mining and coal exports, and it is among the world's biggest emitters of carbon dioxide per capita.

Heavy storms in 2022 caused catastrophic floods on Australia's east coast, in which more than 20 people died.

The "Black Summer" bushfires of 2019-2020 burned more than eight million hectares of native vegetation, while marine heatwaves caused mass coral bleaching on the Great Barrier Reef in 2016, 2017 and 2020.

Also Read
Mineral production index for mining sector rose 4.6% to 129 in Feb
Metals recycling firm Runaya sees revenues doubling in FY24

Australia's centre-left Labor government has approved a new coal mine for the first time since it won power a year ago, sparking an angry reaction from environmental groups. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's government has authorised Bowen Coking Coal's Isaac River mine project in Queensland to extract metallurgical coal for making steel. The mine is relatively small in scale, but it is the first new coal mine to be given the go-ahead by the government, which won many voters over by promising to slash planet-warming carbon emissions after a decade of Australian foot-dragging on climate action. A spokesperson for Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek said that the government had to make decisions in accordance with the facts and the national environment law. She said that the government had doubled renewable energy approvals to a record high since the election, and that it would continue to consider each project on a case-by-case basis under the law. The Australian Conservation Foundation criticised the decision, saying that it ignored climate science. The foundation's climate expert Gavan McFadzean said that the world's climate scientists had all been clear for years that we must immediately stop digging up and burning coal if we want a safe climate. He said that wherever in the world our coal and gas is burnt, it makes climate damage in Australia worse. Bowen Coking Coal welcomed the decision, saying that it was there to meet the growing demand for energy and steelmaking coal. Australia's economy is fuelled by mining and coal exports, and it is among the world's biggest emitters of carbon dioxide per capita. Heavy storms in 2022 caused catastrophic floods on Australia's east coast, in which more than 20 people died. The Black Summer bushfires of 2019-2020 burned more than eight million hectares of native vegetation, while marine heatwaves caused mass coral bleaching on the Great Barrier Reef in 2016, 2017 and 2020. Also Read Mineral production index for mining sector rose 4.6% to 129 in Feb Metals recycling firm Runaya sees revenues doubling in FY24

Next Story
Infrastructure Transport

Kochi Water Metro to Add 3 New Boats

Kochi Water Metro (KWML) is expected to receive three additional electric hybrid boats soon, as Cochin Shipyard (CSL) is in the final stages of completing their delivery. CSL had been tasked with manufacturing 23 electric hybrid boats for KWML, of which 17 have already been delivered. The next three boats are anticipated to arrive in the coming days. Currently, KWML operates boats across five routes, including the newly launched High Court-Fort Kochi route. With the arrival of three more boats, the frequency of services on various routes is likely to increase, easing congestion at terminals ..

Next Story
Infrastructure Transport

Ghatkopar Station Revamp on Track with Modern Infra Ready by 2027

The Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation (MRVC) has set a target to complete station improvement works at Ghatkopar by 2027. While broader upgrades are in progress, commuters are already benefiting from developments completed under Phase I of the project, which was commissioned in December 2023. The chief public relations officer (CPRO) of MRVC, Sunil Udasi, mentioned that the corporation is committed to transforming Ghatkopar station into a model of modern railway infrastructure. He emphasized that the progress of Phase II is on track, with the goal of meeting deadlines while prioritizing commu..

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

Govt Plans to Reduce Logistics Costs to Single Digits in 2-3 Years

The Indian government is determined to reduce logistics costs to single-digit levels within the next two to three years, Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari stated recently. Currently, logistics costs in India range between 14-16 per cent. The minister expressed confidence that these costs would drop to nine per cent during this period, significantly boosting the country's economic competitiveness. To address challenges in the logistics sector, the government has implemented key initiatives such as the Prime Minister Gati Shakti-National Master Plan (PMGS-NMP) and the ..

Hi There!

"Now get regular updates from CW Magazine on WhatsApp!

Join the CW WhatsApp channel for the latest news, industry events, expert insights, and project updates from the construction and infrastructure industry.

Click the link below to join"

+91 81086 03000