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The Train Has Left the Station: Adani

28 February 2020 | BBMC Events

The first Bowen Basin Mining Club luncheon for 2020 kicked off with a bang, as Adani addressed a sold-out crowd in Mackay with a project update.

Adani Mining CEO Lucas Dow spoke about the reality that the Carmichael Mine and Rail Project is well and truly underway, heading towards first coal in 2021.

“The train has left the station, so to speak. As we get on with the job of building Carmichael, we have a strong focus on regional sourcing, with more than $750 million in signed contracts already announced.

There are over 200 workers on our site, and we’re proud to say that 22% of those workers are Indigenous.”

“While Rockhampton and Townsville are benefiting as our regional project hubs, the Project’s benefits are also flowing here in Mackay, with 40 locals building our first 25 trucks.”

“We’re also delivering on our environmental commitments – we have completed 14 surveys on the black-throated finch population on our mining lease area, with the next to start in March.”

Business opportunities for contractors will continue to flow in the coming months, with primary civil contractors soon to be announced. Bowen Basin Mining Club Director Jodie Currie says the progress Adani has made to date shows the impact the resources industry can have in presenting a united front.

“We’re proud that Adani is one of many mining companies who are willing to share their project updates at our events – it’s important to keep the flow of information going to inform and empower industry contractors.”

In advocating, Mr Dow also outlined his optimism for Adani’s place in the global energy future, as the sixth largest solar producer in the world.

“Coal-fired generation capacity in the Asia Pacific region is set to grow by more than 80% by 2040. Coal and renewables are both important in the energy mix – India can’t grow and bring people out of poverty without coal. There’s an opportunity here for us, our kids and our grandkids, to keep jobs here in Queensland producing high-quality, low emission coal.”

“We’re all for democracy and people airing their opinions – but I’m committed to making sure the debate is based on facts, not on lies and mythology.”