The North Queensland Coal Terminal (NQCT) group has been invited to work with the State Government to expand coal infrastructure at Abbot Point
May 21, 2012
The North Queensland Coal Terminal (NQCT) group has been invited to work with the State Government to expand coal infrastructure at Abbot Point, according to a company statement released today.
Carabella Resources, a 6.67 percent shareholder in the NQCT group, says
the group
will work closely with Queensland’s development, infrastructure, and planning department to expand the port.
Carabella Managaing Director Anthony Quin says the decision is a positive step for the Abbot Point expansion, which was reportedly downsized last week.
“As a key member of the North Queensland Coal Terminal consortium, Carabella looks forward to positive engagement with government to develop a more practical and efficient approach to the expansion of coal export capacity at Abbot Point,” he says.
NQCT group was awarded preferred respondent status for a 30MTpa tranche of the Abbott Point coal terminal expansion. The agreement secures 2MTpa of port capacity for Carabella, according to the company statement.
The statement follows reports on Friday that North Queensland Bulk Ports Corporation had received a letter from the State Government notifying them the expansion wouldn’t go ahead as planned.
The $9 billion expansion was reportedly reduced from six new wharves to two, giving an annual capacity of 240 million tonnes instead of 400 million tonnes.
The Port of Abbot Point is situated about 25 kilometres north of Bowen and is Australia’s most northerly coal port.