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Abbot Point

Coordinates: 19°52′59″S 148°04′59″E / 19.883°S 148.083°E / -19.883; 148.083
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Abbot Point
Abbott Point Port infrastructure from the sea, 2018
Map
Click on the map for a fullscreen view
Location
CountryAustralia
Location25 km (16 mi) north of Bowen
Coordinates19°52′59″S 148°04′59″E / 19.883°S 148.083°E / -19.883; 148.083
UN/LOCODEAUABP[1]
Details
Operated byAdani Group
Owned byNorth Queensland Bulk Ports
Type of harbourArtificial
No. of berths2[2]
Draft depth19.1 m.[2]
Statistics
Vessel arrivals190 (2010-11)
Annual cargo tonnage15,063,943 (2010-11)
Website
www.nqxt.com.au

Abbot Point Port is home to the North Queensland Export Terminal (NQXT), the most northerly deepwater coal port of Australia, situated approximately 25 kilometres (16 mi) north-west of the township of Bowen (Queensland).[3] Established in 1984, it consists of a rail in-loading facility, coal handling and stockpile areas, and a single trestle jetty and conveyor connected to a berth and shiploader, located 2.75 km off-shore.[3] Coal reaches the port via the GAP railway line from the Bowen Basin Coalfields.

The Port of Abbot Point is of significant strategic value to North Queensland Bulk Ports Corporation, as there are very few locations along Queensland's eastern seaboard where deep water (>15m) is so close in-shore.[3] North Queensland Export Terminal has been operating for 35 years, safely, responsibly and efficiently exporting coal,[4] however the port's location is sometimes considered controversial given it is about 200 km from the Great Barrier Reef, a UNESCO world heritage site.

Terminal 1

Adani Ports signed a 99-year lease on Abbot Point Terminal 1 in 2011.[5][6] The deal cost Adani Group $1.83 billion.[7]

Abbot Point Operations been contracted by North Queensland Export Terminal to manage the operations at the port of Abbot Point.[8]

Expansion

The port is planned to provide export facilities for coal mined from the Galilee Basin. The terminal has approvals to be expanded with the addition of a second wharf and shiploader as well as an additional onshore stockyard and machines, however this was tabled due to the sizing down of the Carmichael Mine.

An environmental assessment which included a review of 16 environmental studies,[9] found the port's expansion would not have a significant impact on the Great Barrier Reef and that Greenpeace's claims regarding the expansion's impact were overstated. The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Protection Authority (GBRMPA) advised minister Greg Hunt not to approve dredging for the Abbott Point coal port expansion.[10][11] The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act was amended so that government does not have to consider expert advice before approving major developments such as mines and ports.[12]

GVK-Hancock Coal

Federal approval for the port to be used by Hancock Coal to export coal from the Alpha Coal Project was granted on 10 October 2012.[13] Conditions for the go-ahead included a seagrass offset scheme, a wetland management plan, funding for Indigenous rangers, monitoring of air and water quality, amongst a total of 60 conditions aimed primarily to protect the Great Barrier Reef.[14][15] For every 1 hectare (2.5 acres) of seagrass impacted by the port expansion, 8 hectares (20 acres) must be protected.[15]

Gilmour Space Technologies

In May, 2021, it was announced that private Australian rocket launch company, Gilmour Space Technologies, was given the go-ahead by the Queensland Government to build a rocket launch facility in Abbot Point. The rocket dedicated to launch from the launch facility is known as Eris and will launch as early as 2022.

See also

References

  1. ^ "UNLOCODE (AU) - AUSTRALIA". www.unece.org. UNECE. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  2. ^ a b "Port of Abbot Point, Australia". www.findaport.com. Shipping Guides Ltd. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  3. ^ a b c "NQBP Abbot Point". North Queensland Bulk Ports North Queensland. Archived from the original on 26 October 2009. Retrieved 7 February 2010.
  4. ^ "Abbot Point Factsheet" (PDF). October 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  5. ^ Adani of India to Buy Australian Port for $2 Billion
  6. ^ "Rio's exit 'won't blunt Abbot Point plan'". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. 1 May 2012. Retrieved 31 May 2012.
  7. ^ Daniel Hurst (3 May 2011). "Asset sale yields $1.8 billion". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
  8. ^ "Abbot Point Operations".{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  9. ^ 16 Environmental Studies, archived from the original on 27 June 2013, retrieved 30 May 2013
  10. ^ http://www.miningaustralia.com.au/news/greenpeace-share-foi-documents-on-great-barrier-re
  11. ^ "Hope for coal terminal report to allay green fears". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 25 October 2012. Retrieved 25 October 2012.
  12. ^ Jabour, Bridie (4 February 2014). "Great Barrier Reef park directors still face conflict of interest questions". The Guardian. Retrieved 4 February 2014.
  13. ^ Melissa Maddison and Megan Woodward (10 October 2012). "Burke approves new Abbot Point coal terminal". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 11 October 2012.
  14. ^ AAP (10 October 2012). "New Abbot Point coal terminal wins federal approval". The Australia. News Limited. Retrieved 11 October 2012.
  15. ^ a b Rosanne Barrett (11 October 2012). "Coal terminal comes with big strings attached". The Australian. News Limited. Retrieved 11 October 2012.
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