The government previously identified the existing QR network Moura rail line as critical to the opening up of new mines in the Surat Basin to allow the export of coal from the port of Gladstone.

The Surat Basin rail joint venture is now working under an exclusive mandate granted by the government to develop the project as an open access coal and freight railway.

The granting of this approval will allow the SBR joint venture to move to land acquisition and construction, which Stanmore Coal believes is scheduled to commence in late 2012, with first coal on rail due in 2015.

Stanmore Coal has applied for 5 million tonnes of capacity on the SBR to deliver export thermal coal from the Range project from 2015 onwards.

The Range project is located in the north of the Surat Basin, some 27km south east of the planned SBR line.

Stanmore Coal has also obtained 7Mtpa of priority capacity rights at the proposed Wiggins Island coal export coal terminal stage 2 (WICET 2) at Gladstone.

Stanmore Coal managing director Nick Jorss said he understands that capacity at SBR and WICET 2 is due to be allocated shortly, in advance of the planned financial close of both projects in mid-2012.

“We are very pleased to see this key approval milestone achieved which clears the way for the construction of the Surat Basin rail,” Jorss said.

“This is an important event for the Range, our 5Mtpa export thermal coal project which remains on track to commence construction in 2013 and deliver coal two years later.”