Its mining lease application was lodged in the September quarter, along with the terms of reference for its environmental impact study.

The company is now exploring options for links with the port at Abbot Point, its managing director Anthony Quin says.

“In the September quarter, Carabella successfully progressed our flagship Grosvenor West hard-coking coal project into feasibility,” he said.

“Importantly, the detailed study program identified a number of significant cost-saving opportunities. The mining lease application has now been lodged and we are progressing environmental approvals with the recent publication of our EIS terms of reference.”

An investment decision is planned for late 2013.

Quin said the company had also made progress in its exploration efforts at Bluff and the broader Mabbin Creek tenement.

“The results to date at Bluff are pleasing given the attractive PCI coal quality,” he said.

Carabella is progressing a number of options to secure port capacity at Abbot Point.

The company participated in the Queensland government’s review of capacity expansion potential at Abbot Point led by an independent facilitator, Dr Barry Golding, and is currently awaiting the outcome of that review process.

Investigations are also being progressed on the potential to secure capacity at the existing Abbot Point port facility.

Carabella is participating in a request for proposals process by QR National, which is undertaking a pre‐feasibility study for expansion of rail capacity to Abbot Point. The study is due for completion in early 2013.

Discussions with Ergon Energy and SunWater continue to secure power and water supply for the Grosvenor West project.