Carmichael a battle worth fighting for: Techenomics
Adani’s $16.5 billion Carmichael Coal Project in Central Queensland has attracted more than its fair share of publicity, the vast majority of which has been negative, but it will provide a tremendous boost for the region, the state and Australia’s coal industry, according to Techenomics Australia.
Regional mining equipment and technology suppliers (METS) will be major beneficiaries, says Techenomics CEO Chris Adsett, with Adani already securing the services of many suppliers in Central and North Queensland in starting to develop the mine and infrastructure.
“As a provider of innovative total fluid management services to the coal industry in the major coal producing nations of Australia and Indonesia, Techenomics welcomes the massive investment being made by Adani in what is one of the largest single infrastructure and job creation developments in Australia’s recent history,” Chris Adsett says.
“Those who rely on the coal industry and those who will benefit from Carmichael and other Galilee Basin developments, including GVK Hancock’s Kevin’s Corner project, have suffered through the mining downturn and now get the chance to rebuild.”
Adani has overcome many obstacles in its seven year journey since first Carmichael approvals but rather than being an individual battle, the company says it is one that the entire mining industry must take up not just in Australia but globally.
Adani Australia CEO Jeyakumar Janakaraj has stated publicly that the wider mining community must be vocal about this project and others that are being blocked or delayed by protestors. “There is a sentiment of fear created by activists – but let’s talk about hope,” he urges.
He and other Adani executives, including General Manager Corporate Affairs Mutharaj Guruswamy, have been openly discussing the project with local and regional communities, and have engaged with METS businesses through presentations in larger centres, including Townsville.
Carmichael will be a state-of-the-art integrated operation enhanced by the technologies provided by Australian METS companies, including Downer which will construct and operate the mine.
Chris Adsett says that Techenomics provides a number of fluid management and condition monitoring services to Downer Group companies at various sites. “Downer aims to implement real time condition monitoring for Adani, a concept that Techenomics is also pursuing.
“We believe that remote and real time data capture is critical for the future success of all operations in an increasingly competitive global mining industry, and Techenomics is moving along this path in order to improve maintenance predictability and the efficiency of lubricant usage.
“We are keen to support Downer Group companies, Adani and other new Central Queensland developments by establishing a laboratory in the region which will enable us to provide oil analysis and condition monitoring services, and importantly, to coordinate real time data capability.”
The integrated Carmichael projects are expected to create 10,000 direct and indirect jobs while the Kevin’s Corner operations potentially involve 1800 construction jobs and 1600 operational jobs.
The first phase of Carmichael will be a 25 million tonne open-pit mine and wash plant, with Adani aiming to produce first coal in 2020. Construction of the 388km multi-user railway to Adani’s bulk coal handling port at Abbot Point is under way with 100 workers from AECOM in Townsville doing geotechnical work on the route.
Adani has also recently announced contracts worth more than $150 million for railway tracks and concrete sleepers. The contracts have gone to regional cities with $74 million to Arrium Steel in Whyalla for tracks and $82 million to Austrack in Rockhampton for sleepers.
Chris Adsett concludes, “Techenomics congratulates Adani on overcoming the many obstacles thrown in its path on the long journey towards developing Carmichael and while the obstacles continue, Adani will persevere and the project will bring countless benefits to people in Australia as well as increasing the supply of energy to millions of Indians through provision of cost-effective coal-fired power.”
For more information about Techenomics contact: Chris Adsett, c.adsett@techenomics.com; in Indonesia Teguh, teguh@techenomics.com; in Singapore Siti, siti@techenomics.com; in Mongolia Sugraa, sugraa@techenomics.com; or in Australia Leo Valenz, leo.valenz@techenomics.com