BHP Billiton has been designated as the preferred bidder for a new coal export terminal at Abbot Point in Queensland, Australia. At present, existing facilities on the site allowed 25mt (million tonnes) of coal to be shipped. Once the new rail facility is completed, which is slated to take two years, this will be doubled. An additional phase, which has been dubbed ‘X80’, will cost $1.85 billion and boost capacity to 80mt annually.
Barry Cross