EMBATTLED Indian miner Adani is vowing to press on to get the earth moved at its Queensland mine operations.
The company said while it was ready to begin building the mine in the Galilee Basin in central Queensland, approval processes were continuing to hinder progress.
The miner met with the state’s Environment Department in early May, where it was told a number of new commitments need to be met before the plan is approved, including its management plan for an endangered finch, further delaying the controversial multi-billion-dollar project.
Adani Australia chief executive Lucas Dow said the Government was trying to stall, but the company would work “feverishly” to meet the new demands.
“After more than 18 months and seven revisions, the Queensland Labor Government still cannot commit to a date to finalise Adani Mining’s two outstanding environmental management plans,” he said.
“Adani Mining is calling on the Premier to take charge and show leadership, requesting the Queensland Labor Government commit once and for all to a date to finalise the plans.”
Mr Dow said that delaying the approvals process by requesting an eighth round of new revisions went well beyond what was required to meet Adani’s environmental requirements.
“Although we believe the current version of the Black-throated Finch management plan already meets our project conditions, we are not going to be pig-headed about it and we will review the feedback from the Queensland Department and respond accordingly,” he said.
“However, Department officials have refused to commit to a timeframe to finalise the plan, even if we were to accept the State’s new round of requests in full.
“We have endured more than 18 months of endless requests for 11th hour changes, not to mention an external review led by an individual who heads up an organisation whose members have stated anti-mining, anti-coal agendas, all while the Department has been waving through environmental approvals for other coal mines that also contain black-throated finches,” he said.
Adani managed to get federal approval for its groundwater plan on the eve of the Morrison Government hitting caretaker mode in the election campaign.
Federal Resources Minister Matt Canavan said the State Government’s decision was a classic example of siding with the Greens, who have vehemently opposed the project.
