Abbot Point Explained

Abbot Point
Country:Australia
Location: north of Bowen
Coordinates:-19.883°N 148.083°W
Pushpin Map:yes
Pushpin Map Geomask:yes
Pushpin Map Zoom:5
Locode:AUABP[1]
Berths:2[2]
Draft Depth:19.1 m.
Operated:Adani Group
Owner:North Queensland Bulk Ports
Type:Artificial
Arrivals:190 (2010-11)
Cargotonnage:15,063,943 (2010-11)

Abbot Point Port is home to the North Queensland Export Terminal (NQXT), the most northerly deepwater coal port of Australia, situated approximately 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 exporting coal.[4]

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. The road and railway to the port have been targeted at times by non-violent direct action by environmentalists opposed to coal exports.[9]

An environmental assessment which included a review of 16 environmental studies, 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 of seagrass impacted by the port expansion, must be protected.[15]

Bowen Orbital Spaceport

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.[16] Gilmour Space's rocket, Eris, is expected to make its first launch from Bowen Orbital Spaceport in 2024.[17] [18]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: UNLOCODE (AU) - AUSTRALIA . www.unece.org . . 8 October 2020 . 10 January 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200110230700/http://www.unece.org/fileadmin/DAM/cefact/locode/au.htm . live .
  2. Web site: Port of Abbot Point, Australia . Findaport.com . Shipping Guides Ltd . 8 October 2020 . 16 January 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180116143306/http://www.findaport.com/port-of-abbot-point#berthing . live .
  3. Web site: NQBP Abbot Point . North Queensland Bulk Ports North Queensland . 2010-02-07 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20091026232929/http://www.nqbp.com.au/index.cfm?contentID=15 . 26 October 2009 .
  4. Web site: Oct 2020. Abbot Point Factsheet. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20201105111437/https://www.adaniaustralia.com/-/media/Project/Australia/Fact-sheets/Abbot-Point-Operations---Port-Fact-Sheet_v15_WEB.pdf . 5 November 2020 .
  5. Web site: Adani of India to Buy Australian Port for $2 Billion . 3 May 2011 . 5 March 2017 . 1 October 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191001164752/https://dealbook.nytimes.com/2011/05/03/indias-adani-to-buy-australian-port-for-2-billion/ . live .
  6. News: 1 May 2012. Rio's exit 'won't blunt Abbot Point plan'. The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. 31 May 2012. 23 July 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220723065109/https://www.smh.com.au/business/rios-exit-wont-blunt-abbot-point-plan-20120430-1xv47.html. live.
  7. News: Asset sale yields $1.8 billion . Daniel Hurst . 26 August 2021 . 3 May 2011 . The Sydney Morning Herald . Fairfax Media . 25 August 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210825212438/https://www.smh.com.au/business/asset-sale-yields-1-8-billion-20110503-1e6ed.html . live .
  8. Web site: Abbot Point Operations. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20201022224326/https://www.abbotpointoperations.com.au/the-operation/ . 22 October 2020 .
  9. Web site: Paine . Andy . 2022-10-26 . Frontline Action on Coal FLAC: Ten Years on the Climate Frontline . 2022-11-10 . The Commons Social Change Library . en-AU . 10 November 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221110031951/https://commonslibrary.org/frontline-action-on-coal-flac-ten-years-on-the-climate-frontline/ . live .
  10. Web site: Greenpeace share FOI documents on Great Barrier Reef coal port dredging at Abbot Point | Mining Australia . 14 June 2014 . 30 October 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141030073653/http://www.miningaustralia.com.au/news/greenpeace-share-foi-documents-on-great-barrier-re . live .
  11. News: Hope for coal terminal report to allay green fears . 25 October 2012 . 25 October 2012 . ABC News . Australian Broadcasting Corporation . 25 October 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121025173557/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-10-25/hope-for-coal-terminal-report-to-allay-green-fears/4332962?section=qld . live .
  12. News: Jabour. Bridie. Great Barrier Reef park directors still face conflict of interest questions. 4 February 2014. The Guardian. 4 February 2014. 4 February 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140204051815/http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/feb/04/marine-park-directors-face-investigation. live.
  13. News: Burke approves new Abbot Point coal terminal . Melissa Maddison and Megan Woodward . 11 October 2012 . 10 October 2012 . ABC News . Australian Broadcasting Corporation . 11 October 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121011045122/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-10-10/burke-approves-new-abbot-point-coal-terminal/4305114?section=qld . live .
  14. News: New Abbot Point coal terminal wins federal approval . AAP . 11 October 2012 . 10 October 2012 . The Australia . News Limited . 11 October 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121011045121/http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/new-abbot-point-coal-terminal-wins-federal-approval/story-fn59niix-1226492795146 . live .
  15. News: Coal terminal comes with big strings attached . Rosanne Barrett . 11 October 2012 . 11 October 2012 . The Australian . News Limited . 11 October 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121011091704/http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/coal-terminal-comes-with-big-strings-attached/story-fn59niix-1226493170353 . live .
  16. QLD Govt gives go-ahead for a small rocket launch site at Abbot Point . . 20 May 2021 . 19 September 2022 . 20 September 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220920173217/https://www.gspacetech.com/post/qld-govt-gives-go-ahead-for-a-small-rocket-launch-site-at-abbot-point . live .
  17. Gilmour Space Technologies . Gilmour Space . GilmourSpace . 1731860020663316897 .
      • LAUNCH UPDATE: With end of year fast-approaching and launch approvals still pending, Test Flight 1 will now attempt first orbital launch in 2024. **
    . 5 December 2023 . 5 December 2023.
  18. Gilmour Space announces first 'Caravan' rideshare mission to LEO . . 19 September 2022 . 19 September 2022 . [The company] is expecting to launch its first Eris vehicle from the Bowen Orbital Spaceport in Queensland, Australia, early next year. . 25 May 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240525045900/https://www.gspace.com/post/gilmour-space-announces-first-caravan-rideshare-mission-to-leo . live .

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