The much-anticipated mine and rail project will include 189km of track, open cut and underground operations, an airfield and a 2000-bed workers’ village.

The Queensland Resources Council responded quickly to yesterday’s release of the document, calling the proposal an “early Christmas present” for the state.

QRC chief executive Michael Roche said progress towards development of the Galilee Basin as a major new economic powerhouse for Queensland was a welcome boost to confidence in otherwise testing times.

“It is no secret that the coal industry is doing it tough right now, but to see this continuing level of long-term commitment from Adani Mining confirms that Queenslanders can look forward to the future with increasing confidence,” he said.

“[The] announcement is a welcome complement to news that another Galilee Basin proponent – GVK Hancock – and Bowen Basin miner QCoal are collaborating on coal transport services to link their respective projects with Abbot Point coal terminal.”

Carmichael is 160km northwest of Clermont and is projected to begin coal shipments in 2016.

Construction is expected to begin next year.

Through Carmichael exports, Adani expects to generate 20,000 megawatts of electricity for power-starved India by 2020.

In the EIS, the company hinted that to meet these electricity demands, it was prepared to abandon Carmichael for other overseas opportunities, a condition interpreted in the media as a threat.

“If the project does not proceed, it would likely lead to Adani’s demand for coal being met outside of Australia and the benefits of significant economic investment would not be realised,” Adani said in the statement.

The Herald Sun warned that Queensland stood to lose 8000 potential jobs if Adani walked away from the project, but the state government has not interpreted the miner’s statement as a threat.