This article is 14 years old. Images might not display.
The Australian Transport & Energy Corridor Limited (ATEC) is now fully funded to complete financial close of its equity share of the SBR project.
The Surat Basin Railway JV comprises ATEC, Xstrata Coal and QR National and will link Xstrata’s giant $3 billion Wandoan project to the port at the Wiggins Island Coal Export Terminal in Gladstone.
MetroCoal plans to seek participation in the SBR project later in 2011 following its application for 12 million tonnes per annum capacity at the development of WICET.
In July 2007, the Surat Basin Rail JV was awarded an exclusive mandate by the Queensland government to investigate the feasibility of developing a 214-kilometre open access, multi-use rail link between Wandoan and Banana, 130km west of Gladstone.
SBR will increase Queensland’s long-term coal export capacity and connect the Western Railway System (near Wandoan) to the Moura Railway System (near Banana).
The SBRJV and WICET consortiums responsible for construction of the Wiggins Island terminal are both aiming to have rail and port capacity available for the Surat Basin coal producers in late 2014 or early 2015. MetroCoal has lodged an expression of interest for capacity with WICET in 2015.
MetroCoal’s strategy is to develop both its Columboola and Bundi project areas in the Surat Basin and begin operations in 2014/2015, chief executive Mike O'Brien said.
“The Surat Basin is the next major coal production region in Australia,” he said.
