INITIAL environmental checks for Australia’s largest open-cut coal mine proposal have been released for public comment.
Xstrata Coal released the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for its Wandoan Coal Project to assess the proposed mine and associated infrastructure.
The EIS was completed as part of further studies to identify and assess potential social, economic and environmental impacts and benefits of the mine on a local, state and regional basis.
According to the company, the statement helps to determine whether the project is feasible and identifies management strategies to minimise any identified impacts.
Initial production of the proposed mine is expected to exceed 20Mt of coal per year for an expected life of 30 years. If proposals go ahead, royalties are expected to top $3.7bn over the mine’s life span.
Xstrata says the EIS marks the “first step in a long approvals process”.
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