The new government of the Australian state of Queensland has decided to block the plan to expand the port of Abbot Point, which handles export coal traffic.
The project would have seen the existing network of three terminals expanded by a further six, requiring investment of $9 billion. Instead, the existing three terminals will be strengthened.
Explaining the reasons for the changes, the government said that it believed expansion of Abbot point should be gradual, pointing out that the previous project had been unrealistic and impossible to implement.
However, construction of a new coal port at Gladstone is to go ahead. Here,Yarwun Coal Terminal wants to invest $2.2 billion, which would enable the facility to export around 50 million tonnes of coal a year.
BC