The Wiggins Island Coal Terminal will have an initial capacity of 20 million tonnes per annum with the capability to upgrade to an ultimate capacity of 70Mtpa in later stages.

Central Queensland Ports Authority (CQPA) port infrastructure planning manager Gary Carter told attendees that the terminal development would include a stockyard with staking and reclaiming conveyors, outloading conveyors and three shiploaders.

At full capacity, the terminal will have a storage stockpile of 5.5Mt and a loading rate of 6000 tonnes per hour.

Capital costs for Stage 1 will be in the order of $A450 million and for the total project (70Mtpa) approximately $1.85 billion.

The Port of Gladstone is one of the world’s top five exporting ports, presently handling more than 45Mtpa of coal.

CQPA currently owns and operates two coal terminals in the Port of Gladstone – RG Tanna Coal Terminal and Barney Point Terminal.

The current expansion of the RG Tanna Coal Terminal from 45Mtpa to 67Mtpa will see the facility reach its ultimate development capacity.

Meanwhile, the Barney Point Terminal has limited capacity due to stockpiling constraints and environmental considerations which limit expansion beyond 7Mtpa.

Considering the state of the neighbouring terminals, any additional export tonnage will require a new terminal and the CQPA has determined that it has sufficient committed tonnages to initiate the Wiggins Island Coal Terminal project.

The construction workforce for the terminal is estimated to peak at 600 personnel over a 30-month construction period, with the permanent workforce expected to comprise 350 full-time employees.

Preliminary engineering works have begun for the proposed coal terminal, which could be ready for commissioning as early as 2010.

The MESCA briefing is one of 25 annual events organised by the business development association, which is also a part of the Australian Industry Group.

With more than 260 members and growing, MESCA provides the industry with information to assist in optimising the various opportunities within the mining and energy sector.