The project, which is set to start on site near Glenden and Bowen in early May, will provide opportunities for skilled workers in the region.
To deliver the project by mid-2012, QR needs workers with a wide variety of skills ranging from labourers, concreters, surveyors and plant operators to engineering and administrative staff.
Local people interested in finding out about employment or business opportunities on the GAP project are encouraged to attend upcoming information sessions in Bowen or Mackay.
QR and alliance representatives will be available at these sessions to provide information and answer questions.
For more information about GAP employment opportunities contact QR on (07) 3046 7722 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (07) 3046 7722 end_of_the_skype_highlighting or visit COALRail website.
For further details:
Corporate Affairs
Phone: +61 438 304 990 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting +61 438 304 990 end_of_the_skype_highlighting
Email: media@qrnational.com.au
More investment needed for ports: Bligh
AAP
More private investment is needed to free up bottlenecks at Queensland’s shipping ports, Premier Anna Bligh says.
A confidential Rio Tinto briefing warns that the capacity of the Dalrymple Bay loading facility, near Mackay, will be short by up to 17 million tonnes of coal contracted to be shipped through it this year, The Australian newspaper reports.
And the average ship is waiting 35-40 days off the coast until it can use the facility, racking up thousands of dollars in costs at anchor, the newspaper says.
Opposition Leader John-Paul Langbroek said the situation was costing the state big.
“Up to 50 boats are lined up for weeks at a time, at a time when our economy is clearly under pressure with the loss of our AAA credit rating (and) masses of debt,” he told reporters.
“Anna Bligh is strangling our economy through poor preparation and planning of ports and rails.”
Ms Bligh said a new rail project would give coal companies alternative ports to choose from and building a new port at Dudgeon Point was being investigated.
But she said private investment was needed.
“Queensland has an unprecedented opportunity to export to the world and to do that effectively we need a comprehensive rail system and an expanded port capacity,” she said.
“All of that requires massive investment.
“I want the private sector, through the coal companies and other investors, to be putting money into those sorts of initiatives.”
She said the projects supported private companies and therefore should be paid for by private investment, freeing the government up to invest in passenger networks.
The government is preparing for the public float of its commercial rail business, QR National, and lease the Port of Brisbane and Abbot Point Coal Terminal as part of its assets sale plans.
It says the sales are the only way to restore the state’s finances, hit hard by the global financial crisis.
Information from Hancock Coal Port/Rail to Abbott Point 2010.
Hancock Coal initially reviewed 22 different port options, with two potential options considered feasible for the Alpha Coal Project – Abbot Point and Dudgeon Point. After analysing both options, Hancock Coal has nominated Abbot Point as its preferred option.
Abbot Point, Queensland
Abbot Point is an existing coal precinct located 25km north of Bowen, Queensland, and is currently undergoing expansion and development. The final port will accommodate vessels from Handymax to Cape Class. There are a number of options available to Hancock Coal at Abbot Point. These include the stockyard, jetty and loading wharf for an offshore X230 facility, a land backed facility, the Multi Cargo Facility (MCF), or expansion of the existing port from 50 Mtpa to 110Mtpa. The existing port and surrounding land has extensive expansion planned and is committed for the next five years to meet growing coal export demand. The proposed port provides adequate protection from the prevailing weather conditions.
Planned port layout
The planned port layout (including coal handling facility and terminal) may include the following components:
- Coal handling facility and stockyard site of approximately 300ha
- Two rail loops (5km in length) located on site with dump stations to facilitate the unloading of coal
- Sufficient stockyard capacity to handle an initial 30Mtpa with adequate land for potential multi-user stockyard capacity expansions up to 120 Mtpa
- Berthing for a full range of vessels from Handymax to Cape Class vessels (i.e. 250,000 DWT)
- A shiploader on wharf with provision for wharf and shiploader expansion, which will allow for additional multi-user berthing capacity.
Terminal throughput
The port will have the capacity to operate at 60 Mtpa with further planning allowing for significant future expansion of the terminal.
Two operational berths with one shared shiploader (operating at 8,000 tph capacity of 6,000 tph net) will initially provide adequate handling capacity.
Marine structures
The following design criteria will be adopted for the marine structures associated with the port:
- The jetty and wharf will be designed to initially cater for two conveyor streams
- Capacity for the expansion of the berths to accommodate three ships simultaneously with two shiploaders (50 – 80 Mtpa facility
Asciano Strikes $320 Million worth Deal
It is to be mentioned that the coal port is also on the line for sale under the privatisation program with its capacity being upgraded to 50 million tonnes from the previous 21 million tonnes, primarily through the construction of the “missing link”, a railway line connecting the exiting two lines, something that will give the coal miners the opportunity to choose between Abbot Point or Dalrymple Bay to take the coal. The contract is expected to run from January 2012 which is going to allow the “missing link” to be used to deliver coal to Abbot Point. Asciano has won the deal for carting the Macarthur Coal output from its existing two mines from Queensland Rail and also won the contract to deliver coal from the German Creek mine of Rio Tinto to Dalrymple Bay just a couple of weeks ago. These deals are for the present capacity.
Asciano is also hopeful about the future contracts considering the new mines on the line in central Queensland and wants to be ready to service them. Both Asciano and Queensland Rail made announcements on Thursday with Asciano announcing the contract for new capacity while QR declared the extension of its $250 million worth contract with Jellinbah coal. According to this contract, QR will carry as much as 5 million tonnes of coal per year to one of the three ports (Abbot Point, Dalrymple Bay and Gladstone).
Palmer plans massive coal loader near Abbot Point
- From: The Australian
- July 12, 2010 12:00AM
FLASH POINT: Abbot Point Coal Terminal in Bowen. Picture: Sarah Marshall Source: The Courier-Mail
MINING magnate Clive Palmer is planning to build a new coal-loading facility outside the existing one at Abbot Point in north Queensland.
This will transform what is now a small concern into possibly the biggest coal port in the world.
Abbot Point is due to be sold next year as part of the Queensland government’s privatisation program, and as part of that process, the port’s current coal-loading capacity is being upgraded from 21 million tonnes to 50 million tonnes.
The extra capacity involved in this upgrade has already been allocated as part of the “missing link” railway project, under which new and existing mines in the Bowen Basin will ship coal through Abbot Point for export.
In addition to this extra capacity, the Queensland government has allowed the construction of further coal-loading facilities on another two sites beside the port.
These will be privately run and not part of the privatisation.
Most industry observers had expected that these sites would be allocated to Mr Palmer’s Waratah Coal and Gina Rinehart’s Hancock Prospecting, the two companies planning big coal mines in the Galilee Basin, which is an emerging coal-mining region.
But while one of the sites was awarded to Hancock, the other went to BHP Billiton, effectively freezing the Palmer project out of any future capacity.
But when contacted in Beijing yesterday, Mr Palmer said that he intended to build his own coal-loading facility north of the existing port so that he did not have to rely on the future allocations.
“We’re planning to put 40 million tonnes a year through there, and we’ll be building our own jetty,” he said.
“We’ve lodged the documents with the government and currently we’re in the public consultation phase. We expect the whole thing to be wrapped up by the end of the year.”
Whitsunday mayor Mike Brunker, in whose shire Abbot Point is situated, said that he was aware of the Palmer proposal but that he didn’t know how far it had gone.
“We’d prefer that Clive use the multi-user facility which is being built there, but his people have told us that it’s his preference to build his own jetty,” Mr Brunker said.
Abbot Point is currently controlled by the state government’s Queensland Ports Corporation.
The corporation’s chief executive, Brad Fish, said the port was planning extra capacity of up to 200 million tonnes per annum throughput.
He said one possibility was a 12-berth multi-user facility with BHP Billiton and Hancock Prospecting being allocated two berths each, and if this project went ahead it was possible that Waratah Coal could be allocated some of this capacity.
Hancock has moved ahead of the Palmer project by gaining the port facilities, and it has stolen another march on its rival with the Queensland government approving its planned rail corridor from the Galilee Basin to Abbot Point as an “infrastructure facility of significance”, which means the state has the power to acquire private land for the project.
“The declaration of the IFS means Hancock now has a defined corridor within which they can continue to study the feasibility of their plans,” Queensland Infrastructure Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said. “This decision gives greater certainty in support of ongoing planning and potential investment for the proposed $5.5bn Alpha project and the estimated $6.5bn proposed Hancock Kevin’s Corner project in the Galilee Basin.”
The proposed expansion of Abbot Point is attracting criticism from conservation groups.
Greens leader Bob Brown has visited the area to protest against the port expansion.
Mary Steele Sent: Wednesday, 28 April 2010 9:34 AM
Subject: MEDIA ALERT – TWO NEW COAL TERMINALS ANNOUNCED FOR ABBOT POINT
Two new coal terminals for Port of Abbot Point
North Queensland Bulk Ports Corporation [NQBP] today announced the awarding of Preferred Developer status to BHP Billiton and Hancock Coal Pty Ltd for two major expansions at the Port of Abbot Point.
NQBP Chairman of the Board, Leonie Taylor said, “We are pleased to announce that the Queensland Government has endorsed proposals from BHP Billiton and Hancock Coal to build two new coal terminals at Abbot Point to export an estimated 110 million tonnes of coal per annum.”
“The new coal terminals will be single user terminals providing BHP Billiton with the capacity to export 30 Mtpa and Hancock Coal the capacity to export 30 Mtpa.
“Both BHP Billiton and Hancock Coal have expressed interest in working with NQBP in optimising the area to increase capacity from 30 Mtpa to 50 Mtpa for BHP Billiton and from 30 Mtpa to 60 Mtpa for Hancock Coal. This of course, would be subject to investigations and approvals.
“The Port of Abbot Point is situated next to the State Development Area offering enormous potential for industry growth and is a strategic port positioned to respond to industry demand”, she said.
The two new terminals will be located adjacent to the existing Government-owned Abbot Point Coal Terminal, which is currently undergoing upgrades to increase capacity to 50 Mtpa.
The Government intends to offer a 99-year lease over this existing Abbot Point Coal Terminal with the sale process to commence in late 2010.
“NQBP will now negotiate detailed framework agreements, which will underpin the planning and development of the terminals.
“These two projects have the potential to deliver a massive economic injection to central and northern Queensland ,” said Ms Taylor.
The proposed BHP coal terminal will be fed by Queensland Rail’s Newlands coal rail system.
The Hancock Coal proposal is a comprehensive mine to port proposal which includes a purpose-built rail line from the Galilee Coal Basin to its coal terminal at the Port of Abbot Point.
“The Expressions of Interest (EOI) for development at Abbot Point was advertised in December 2009 and attracted a lot of interest and excellent applicants.
“The preferred developers were chosen because they offer the best opportunity to optimise the use of the land and achieve the best tonnage throughput.
“There will be significant upfront capital investment to build the terminals and associated rail infrastructure, increased mining royalties for the State and both direct and indirect job creation from mine to port,” said Ms Taylor
Aurecon Hatch has been engaged to undertake a study to identify the best site within the Abbot Point State Development Area for this further capacity. The study is expected to be completed by August 2010 at which time a further Expressions of Interest process may be undertaken if demand warrants.
Mary Steele
Manager, Corporate Relations
NORTH QUEENSLAND BULK PORTS CORPORATION
ACN 136 880 218 • ABN 36 136 880 218
Level 24, 300 Queen St. Brisbane, QLD
Phone: +61 7 3224 4346 • Mob: 0429 496 826 http://www.nqbp.com.au
________________________________________________________________
Disclaimer:
Opinions contained in this e-mail do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the North Queensland Bulk Ports (NQBP). This e-mail is for the exclusive use of the addressee and should not be disseminated further or copied without the permission of the NQBP sender. If you have received this message in error, please immediately notify the sender and delete the message from your computer.
Have you visited our website lately? Visit us at http://www.nqbp.com.au/
_________________________________________________________________
North Queensland Bulk Ports Corporation limited
ACN 136 880 218 ABN 36 136 880 218
Registered Office
Level 24, 300 Queen Street,
Brisbane Queensland
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The vision of the Queensland Government’s Northern Economic Triangle (NET) Infrastructure Plan 2007-2012 is to foster sustainable economic, social and community development and growth through the emergence of Mount Isa, Townsville and Bowen as a triangle of mining, minerals processing and industrial development over the course of the next half century. In the Bowen region there are currently a number of infrastructure developments in train, including the expansion of the Port of Abbot Point, increased capacity and expansion of the Newlands rail system, and the Queensland Government’s recently declared State Development Area (SDA) at Abbot Point to facilitate industrial development.
In addition to these developments, projects under study include the provision of water infrastructure, energy transmission and distribution, road networks and the potential location of an alumina refinery within the Abbot Point SDA. To facilitate community consultation on industrial development and infrastructure projects in the Bowen Abbot Point region, the Department of Infrastructure and Planning, in partnership with industry, the Whitsunday Regional Council and community stakeholders, has established a Bowen Abbot Point Community Consultation Group. This Consultation Group held its first meeting in October 2008. The Consultation Group intends to meet regularly in Bowen until mid 2009, when its charter will be reviewed.
This is a voluntary group that will provide community representatives with the opportunity to interact with government and infrastructure stakeholders for the purpose of representing community interests, exchange ideas and work toward partnerships capable of benefiting the community. The Consultation Group which is meeting every six weeks, is chaired by Dr David Mulligan (Director, Centre for Mined Land Rehabilitation). Other representatives on the Group are from the Department of Infrastructure and Planning, Ports Corporation of Queensland, Whitsunday Regional Council, QR Network, SunWater, Department of Main Roads and Bowen Collinsville Enterprise as well as community representatives from environmental, social, business and indigenous backgrounds.
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| The deposit | 2.6 billion tonnes of Measured, Indicated and Inferred JORC compliant resources |
| The mine | 30 Mtpa open-cut thermal coal mine with associated infrastructure and utilities, making it one of the largest single coal mine sites in the world |
| Rail corridor | Construction and operation of a rail link from the mine to the preferred port location (Abbot Point) allowing multi-user access |
| Port | Construction and operation of a port and materials handling facility with the capacity to handle more than 60 Mtpa |
FROM WEBSITE; Dept of Infrastructure and Planning.Abbot Point
Located approximately 20 kilometres west of Bowen, Abbot Point forms a key part of the Queensland Government’s Northern Economic Triangle Infrastructure Plan 2007-2012.
A key objective of the plan is to develop a new industrial precinct for large scale industries at Abbot Point, which offers an existing deepwater port facility and is close to transport links such as the Bruce Highway and rail infrastructure.
The Abbot Point State Development Area was declared by the Governor in Council on 19 June 2008 under section 77 of the State Development and Public Works Organisation Act 1971.
The Abbot Point State Development Area is approximately 16 230 hectares and provides for the establishment of industrial development, including infrastructure corridors and essential infrastructure.
Development scheme for the Abbot Point State Development Area
A development scheme has been prepared to manage land use in the Abbot Point State Development Area. This scheme, prepared by the Coordinator-General, was approved by the Governor-in-Council on 19 June 2008.
The development scheme will plan for the establishment of industrial development, infrastructure corridors and essential services in a coordinated manner, recognising the environment, cultural heritage and the community.
The role of the Coordinator-General is to assess and determine all applications for land use development (material change of use) within the state development area.
Development scheme for the Abbot Point State Development Area ( 210 KB)
Precinct Map
A precinct map forms part of the development scheme. This precinct map divides the Abbot Point State Development Area into four precincts:
Industry Precinct
Infrastructure and Corridors Precinct
Restricted Development Precinct
Environmental Management/Materials Transportation Precinct
Abbot Point State Development Area Precinct map ( 804 KB)
Further information
For further information contact the Infrastructure and Economic Development Group.
Last Updated ( Monday, 23 June 2008 )
PRESS RELEASE; from Ports Corp of Queensland.PORTS CORPORATION OF QUEENSLAND (PCQ) SPONSORS BOWEN SHOW
The Bowen Show Society has secured major financial backing for its annual show from the Abbot Point port authority, Ports Corporation of Queensland (PCQ).
The Minister for Transport, Trade, Employment and Industrial Relations, John Mickel, and Member for Whitsundays, Jan Jarrett, said PCQ’s major sponsorship was an illustration of the State Government’s and PCQ’s faith in the future of Abbot Point.
Mr Mickel said the financial boost for the show came after the Bowen Pastoral and Agricultural Association submitted a proposal to PCQ, detailing plans for the annual show and how to make some positive changes to ensure its continued role as one of the regions leading annual events.
Ms Jarratt said she was very pleased to announce that PCQ would provide $10,000 sponsorship this year with an in-principle commitment of ongoing funding for a further four years.
“That’s a total of $50,000 over five years to support the activities of the Show Association, ” Ms Jarratt said.
The association aims to incorporate the following new activities into the show program:
- show theme with a focus on going to the show in the early days
- kids corner
- yellow brick road taking families through the show and its activities in a hunt for items to go into a show bag
- Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow area housing show memorabilia sourced from locals including original ribbons, trophies and
pins
- additional entertainment
- time capsule containing information about the history of the show, the businesses that support it and the vision that people have
for the future of the show and Bowen region.
President of the Bowen Pastoral and Agricultural Association, Jane Benson, welcomed the Minister’s announcement.
“This is wonderful news for the whole community and will see the show being put on a much sounder financial footing and allow for a greater range of activities to be provided for visitors each year,” Mrs Benson said.
“This sponsorship by PCQ is a very clear demonstration of their long term commitment to Bowen and the fact that they have chosen to sponsor our show in its 125th anniversary year is a wonderful demonstration of support to our community,” she said.
Ms Jarratt said PCQ was committed to the sustainable development of both Abbot Point and the wider region and values the close links it has with the local Bowen community.
The Premier, Anna Bligh, and Minister Mickel recently announced $163 million in new projects at Abbot Point.
The State Government has given the go ahead for the $95 million X25 expansion of the Abbot Point Coal Terminal, owned by PCQ, and an additional $68 million approval to upgrade the existing stockyard system at the terminal.
PRESS RELEASE; from Ports Corp of Queensland.
QUEENSLAND’S LARGEST PORT EXPANSION PROJECT ON TRACK
The Abbot Point X25 Port Expansion Project remains on target for completion by end June 2009 increasing export capacity from 21 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa) to 25 Mtpa.
Ports Corporation of Queensland (PCQ) is also well underway with the second phase of expansion at Abbot Point (X50) to increase capacity to 50 Mtpa by 2011.
“The expansion at Abbot Point secures Queensland as the world’s largest exporter of seabourne coal and is critical to the economy and wealth of Queensland,” Transport Minister John Mickel said during his visit to Abbot Point Port today.
“PCQ ports are major contributors to the Queensland economy generating almost 4,400 jobs and contributing $1.14 billion to regional economies annually.”
“Coal is one of Queensland’s most valuable export commodities, we currently export to 31 countries.
“Recent forecasts by the Queensland Resources Council suggest that there will be a total demand of up to 235 million tonnes (Mt) by 2010 and Abbot Point will be well positioned to support future demands,” said Minister Mickel.
PCQ’s expansion at Abbot Point comprises three projects totalling approximately $1 billion.
The expansion includes the construction of a second berth located 2.9 kilometres off-shore that will involve the installation of approximately 9,500 tonnes of structural steel and a 2.9 kilometre conveyor along the jetty to transport the coal from the stockyard to the ships.
Also under construction is a new shiploader which will allow a ship to be loaded with coal at a peak rate of 7,200 tonnes per hour.
Over 120 workers will be employed during the construction of the X25 project, and up to 500 workers during the X50 Expansion Project.
To accommodate the workforce required to expand the Port facilities, PCQ has built an accommodation village in Merinda.
“It has been a priority of PCQ to ensure that the current housing and tourism industries in Bowen are not impacted by the accommodation requirement of the Abbot Point expansion program of works.
PCQ is also committed to employing locally and contracting local business. Currently 40% of staff working on the project is from the local community. PCQ is also providing accommodation and resources for an Indigenous Employment Officer,” said Minister Mickel.
The Merinda accommodation village can currently house 125 workers with full-bed capacity and facilities for 500 to be completed by March 2009.
The village will include a Sewerage Treatment Plant that will cater for a population of 500 and which will be transferred to the Whitsunday Regional Council from PCQ at the end of works providing necessary infrastructure to foster growth opportunities for the Merinda area.