Coal news and updates

Terminal 4 at Port Waratah Coal Services approved

The Planning Assessment Commission (PAC) of New South Wales has approved the Terminal 4 project at Port Waratah Coal Services, although with coal markets currently oversupplied there is unlikely to be any immediate development on the site.

“After almost five years, today marks a significant and very welcome milestone for the Terminal 4 project and the local coal industry,” said Port Waratah CEO Hennie du Plooy. “The world has changed since we originally lodged the application for Terminal 4 in 2010 and the need for extra coal export capacity is not so immediate. Despite this, planning certainty will allow the industry to respond in good time if additional capacity is required.”

Under the PAC ruling, a five year timelapse has been applied to the development consent with conditions also covering biodiversity, contamination, air quality, cleaning of coal wagons, storm water and noise.

“The commission is satisfied that this highly contaminated site, occupying prime port side land, can be made suitable for terminal use,” the PAC said in a statement. “Should it be developed, the project will generate employment and economic inputs to the local and regional economy.

The project will now be reviewed by the state government in New South Wales, specifically in relation to the project’s impact on ecology.

source: http://www.worldcoal.com