Queensland’s co-ordinator-general has approved the $6.7 billion China Stone coal project in the Galilee Basin.

MacMines Austasia proposes an open-cut and underground thermal coal operation 300km west of Mackay and 190km west of Moranbah.

The project would produce up to 38 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa) of coal for export to the Asian market at its peak and the  mine life is expected to be about 50 years.

It would include the development of mine infrastructure areas, a coal handling and preparation plant (CHPP), a tailings storage facility (TSF), a rail loop and train-loading facilities, a coal-fired power station and power station waste storage
facility, a private airstrip and an accommodation village.

It is expected to create up to 3892 direct full time equivalent (FTE) jobs at the peak of the 5-year construction and early works phase.

Ongoing operations would require up to 3391 direct FTE jobs at peak, the EIS report states.

The project includes plans for a 1050MW coal-fired power station.

In his report on the project, co-ordinator general Barry Broe report said that while the project proposes a power station, after considering its predicted greenhouse gas emissions, the company is required to make a further assessment of power supply alternatives including renewables.

“I have imposed conditions to ensure this additional information is provided to the Department of Environment and Science (DES) to enable assessment of the need for a new coal-fired power station and its impacts on air quality,” he said.

More information on the China Stone project approval and conditions  HERE