Image source: Adani
The company has awarded Australian rail company Martinus a civil construction contract worth over $220 million to build the rail requirements for the Carmichael mine.
Under this contract, Martinus will deliver 86-kilometres of rail formation works, a road over rail bridge, nine waterway bridges, more than 200 culverts and 35 rail crossings.
Adani Mining chief executive officer Lucas Dow said the Martinus contract would create about 600 jobs, which is more important than ever as the community braces for the economic shifts brought about by the coronavirus.
“We’re following all advice from Queensland Health and the Federal Government and doing all we can to keep our people and the community safe,” Dow said.
“We have implemented measures including social distancing, health screening and increased hygiene, in the hope that more of our contractors, suppliers and the businesses who depend on us can also weather the storm, keeping their doors open, services running, and importantly provide certainty of employment.”
Once construction is complete, the Carmichael mine will be one of 125 coal mines in Australia and in its first stage will produce 10 million tonnes of coal per annum.
The civil construction contract is the second major package of works awarded to Martinus, following the $100 million contract announced in October 2019.
As part of the earlier contract, Martinus was awarded the track works package to deliver approximately 200-kilometres of narrow-gauge rail from the Carmichael mine to the existing rail infrastructure.
“Martinus will base their workforce out of Rockhampton and Townsville, delivering a big win to regional Queenslanders and these local economies in particular,” Dow said.
“We’re very pleased to extend our relationship with Martinus and look forward to the rail project ramping up over the coming weeks and months.”
Assembly of Adani’s first mining trucks is now also complete, with two heavy vehicles having left Mackay to make the 300-kilometre trip to the Carmichael Mine site this week.