The $1 billion Goonyella to Abbot Point Expansion Project – the biggest rail project in Queensland in three decades – is closer with Queensland Rail signing the CoalConnect project alliance agreement – an alliance comprising QR, Leighton Contractors, GHD and KBR.
Together, these partners will undertake the civil works of the Goonyella to Abbot Point Expansion Project, including the Northern Missing Link and the Buckley to Newlands
Upgrade.
The alliance is a major part in QR’s $3 billion-plus investment in lifting the capacity and performance of the Central Queensland coal network, including new and upgraded track, and new locomotives and wagons.
“By 2010-11, we will have increased tonnage capacity by almost 60 percent in Queensland, with the ability to haul 261 million tonnes of coal across all networks," said QR chief executive Lance Hockridge.
“This expansion potentially could deliver 100 million tonnes per year through Abbot Point at Bowen – that translates to well over $10 billion in revenue at today’s prices for coal companies and the state’s burgeoning coal industry.”
Currently, QR delivers 15 million tonnes per annum from the Newlands system and another 1.5Mtpa from the Goonyella system to Abbot Point.
The 69km Northern Missing Link will provide a vital connection between these two systems in Queensland’s northern Bowen Basin coal fields.
The infrastructure plans by QR and Ports Corporation Queensland (PCQ) will cater for an increase in capacity at the port to 30Mtpa by the end of the first quarter of 2010.
By the end of 2010, QR’s completed infrastructure works in line with PCQ’s completed planned expansion will support an increase in capacity to 50Mtpa.
“Dependent on demand from the mining industry, there is potential for exports through the Abbot Point Coal Terminal to continue to increase beyond 2010, up to 75 million tonnes per annum and possibly 100 million tonnes per annum," QR said.
The entire Goonyella to Abbot Point Expansion Project comprises:
The development of the Northern Missing Link, a 69km section of new track between North Goonyella and Newlands;
Upgrades along the existing track between Newlands and Buckley, including track strengthening;
New passing loops and passing loop extensions;
Upgrade works at QR’s Pring rail yards through to additional works at Abbot Point; and
Connection works within the Goonyella rail system.
In addition, QR is looking at electrification for the entire track through to the port.
Planning and design for the project is well underway, and with the go-ahead from the State Government and the mining industry, CoalConnect will have earthworks underway on site from September 2008.
