Abbot Point
{{Short description|Deepwater port in Queensland, Australia}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2014}}
{{Use Australian English|date=May 2014}}
{{Infobox port
| name = Abbot Point
| image = Abbot Point Terminal.jpg
| image_caption = Abbott Point port infrastructure from the sea, 2018
| country = Australia
| location = {{cvt|25|km}} north of Bowen
| coordinates = {{coord|-19.883|148.083|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| pushpin_map = yes
| pushpin_map_geomask = yes
| pushpin_map_zoom = 5
| locode = AUABP{{cite web |title=UNLOCODE (AU) - AUSTRALIA |url=https://www.unece.org/fileadmin/DAM/cefact/locode/au.htm |website=www.unece.org |publisher=UNECE |accessdate=8 October 2020 |archive-date=10 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200110230700/http://www.unece.org/fileadmin/DAM/cefact/locode/au.htm |url-status=live }}
| opened =
| operated = Adani Group
| owner = North Queensland Bulk Ports
| type = Artificial
| sizewater =
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| arrivals = 190 (2010-11)
| cargotonnage = 15,063,943 (2010-11)
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| website = {{Official URL}}
}}
The Port of Abbot Point is home to the North Queensland Export Terminal (NQXT), the most northerly deepwater coal port of Australia, situated approximately {{convert|25|km}} north-west of the town of Bowen, Queensland.{{Cite web|title=NQBP Abbot Point |url=http://www.nqbp.com.au/index.cfm?contentID=15 |publisher=North Queensland Bulk Ports North Queensland |accessdate=2010-02-07 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20091026232929/http://www.nqbp.com.au/index.cfm?contentID=15 |archivedate=26 October 2009 }} Established in 1984, it consists of a rail in-loading facility, coal handling and stockpile areas, and a single trestle jetty and conveyor connected to a berth and shiploader, located 2.75 km off-shore. Coal reaches the port via the GAP railway line from the Bowen Basin Coalfields.
The Port of Abbot Point is of significant strategic value to North Queensland Bulk Ports Corporation, as there are very few locations along Queensland's eastern seaboard where deep water (>15m) is so close in-shore. North Queensland Export Terminal has been operating for 35 years exporting coal.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=Oct 2020|title=Abbot Point Factsheet|url=https://www.adaniaustralia.com/-/media/Project/Australia/Fact-sheets/Abbot-Point-Operations---Port-Fact-Sheet_v15_WEB.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201105111437/https://www.adaniaustralia.com/-/media/Project/Australia/Fact-sheets/Abbot-Point-Operations---Port-Fact-Sheet_v15_WEB.pdf |archive-date=5 November 2020 |access-date=|website=}}
Terminal 1
Adani Ports signed a 99-year lease on Abbot Point Terminal 1 in 2011.{{Cite web |url=https://dealbook.nytimes.com/2011/05/03/indias-adani-to-buy-australian-port-for-2-billion/ |title=Adani of India to Buy Australian Port for $2 Billion |date=3 May 2011 |access-date=5 March 2017 |archive-date=1 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191001164752/https://dealbook.nytimes.com/2011/05/03/indias-adani-to-buy-australian-port-for-2-billion/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite news|date=1 May 2012|title=Rio's exit 'won't blunt Abbot Point plan'|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|publisher=Fairfax Media|url=http://www.smh.com.au/business/rios-exit-wont-blunt-abbot-point-plan-20120430-1xv47.html|accessdate=31 May 2012|archive-date=23 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220723065109/https://www.smh.com.au/business/rios-exit-wont-blunt-abbot-point-plan-20120430-1xv47.html|url-status=live}} The deal cost Adani Group $1.83 billion.{{Cite news |url=https://www.smh.com.au/business/asset-sale-yields-1-8-billion-20110503-1e6ed.html |title=Asset sale yields $1.8 billion |author=Daniel Hurst |accessdate=26 August 2021 |date=3 May 2011 |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |publisher=Fairfax Media |archive-date=25 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210825212438/https://www.smh.com.au/business/asset-sale-yields-1-8-billion-20110503-1e6ed.html |url-status=live }}
Abbot Point Operations been contracted by North Queensland Export Terminal to manage the operations at the port of Abbot Point.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Abbot Point Operations|url=https://www.abbotpointoperations.com.au/the-operation/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201022224326/https://www.abbotpointoperations.com.au/the-operation/ |archive-date=22 October 2020 |access-date=|website=}}
Expansion
The port is planned to provide export facilities for coal mined from the Galilee Basin. The terminal has approvals to be expanded with the addition of a second wharf and shiploader as well as an additional onshore stockyard and machines, however this was tabled due to the sizing down of the Carmichael Mine. The road and railway to the port have been targeted at times by non-violent direct action by environmentalists opposed to coal exports.{{Cite web |last=Paine |first=Andy |date=2022-10-26 |title=Frontline Action on Coal FLAC: Ten Years on the Climate Frontline |url=https://commonslibrary.org/frontline-action-on-coal-flac-ten-years-on-the-climate-frontline/ |access-date=2022-11-10 |website=The Commons Social Change Library |language=en-AU |archive-date=10 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221110031951/https://commonslibrary.org/frontline-action-on-coal-flac-ten-years-on-the-climate-frontline/ |url-status=live }}
An environmental assessment which included a review of 16 environmental studies,{{Citation|title=16 Environmental Studies |url=https://file.ac/--AmCOw-eRs/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130627105726/https://file.ac/--AmCOw-eRs/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=27 June 2013 |accessdate=30 May 2013 }} found the port's expansion would not have a significant impact on the Great Barrier Reef and that Greenpeace's claims regarding the expansion's impact were overstated. The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Protection Authority (GBRMPA) advised minister Greg Hunt not to approve dredging for the Abbott Point coal port expansion.{{Cite web |url=http://www.miningaustralia.com.au/news/greenpeace-share-foi-documents-on-great-barrier-re |title=Greenpeace share FOI documents on Great Barrier Reef coal port dredging at Abbot Point | Mining Australia |access-date=14 June 2014 |archive-date=30 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141030073653/http://www.miningaustralia.com.au/news/greenpeace-share-foi-documents-on-great-barrier-re |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-10-25/hope-for-coal-terminal-report-to-allay-green-fears/4332962?section=qld |title=Hope for coal terminal report to allay green fears |accessdate=25 October 2012 |date=25 October 2012 |work=ABC News |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |archive-date=25 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025173557/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-10-25/hope-for-coal-terminal-report-to-allay-green-fears/4332962?section=qld |url-status=live }} The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act was amended so that government does not have to consider expert advice before approving major developments such as mines and ports.{{cite news|last=Jabour|first=Bridie|title=Great Barrier Reef park directors still face conflict of interest questions|url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/feb/04/marine-park-directors-face-investigation|accessdate=4 February 2014|newspaper=The Guardian|date=4 February 2014|archive-date=4 February 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140204051815/http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/feb/04/marine-park-directors-face-investigation|url-status=live}}
=GVK-Hancock Coal=
Federal approval for the port to be used by Hancock Coal to export coal from the Alpha Coal Project was granted on 10 October 2012.{{Cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-10-10/burke-approves-new-abbot-point-coal-terminal/4305114?section=qld |title=Burke approves new Abbot Point coal terminal |author=Melissa Maddison and Megan Woodward |accessdate=11 October 2012 |date=10 October 2012 |work=ABC News |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |archive-date=11 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121011045122/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-10-10/burke-approves-new-abbot-point-coal-terminal/4305114?section=qld |url-status=live }} Conditions for the go-ahead included a seagrass offset scheme, a wetland management plan, funding for Indigenous rangers, monitoring of air and water quality, amongst a total of 60 conditions aimed primarily to protect the Great Barrier Reef.{{Cite news |url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/new-abbot-point-coal-terminal-wins-federal-approval/story-fn59niix-1226492795146 |title=New Abbot Point coal terminal wins federal approval |author=AAP |accessdate=11 October 2012 |date=10 October 2012 |newspaper=The Australia |publisher=News Limited |archive-date=11 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121011045121/http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/new-abbot-point-coal-terminal-wins-federal-approval/story-fn59niix-1226492795146 |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/coal-terminal-comes-with-big-strings-attached/story-fn59niix-1226493170353 |title=Coal terminal comes with big strings attached |author=Rosanne Barrett |accessdate=11 October 2012 |date=11 October 2012 |newspaper=The Australian |publisher=News Limited |archive-date=11 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121011091704/http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/coal-terminal-comes-with-big-strings-attached/story-fn59niix-1226493170353 |url-status=live }} For every {{convert|1|ha}} of seagrass impacted by the port expansion, {{convert|8|ha}} must be protected.
Bowen Orbital Spaceport
In May 2021, it was announced that private Australian rocket launch company Gilmour Space Technologies was given the go-ahead by the Queensland Government to build a rocket launch facility in Abbot Point.{{cite press release |url=https://www.gspacetech.com/post/qld-govt-gives-go-ahead-for-a-small-rocket-launch-site-at-abbot-point |title=QLD Govt gives go-ahead for a small rocket launch site at Abbot Point |work=Gilmour Space Technologies |date=20 May 2021 |access-date=19 September 2022 |archive-date=20 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220920173217/https://www.gspacetech.com/post/qld-govt-gives-go-ahead-for-a-small-rocket-launch-site-at-abbot-point |url-status=live }} Gilmour Space's rocket, Eris, is expected to launch in early 2025 from the Bowen Orbital Spaceport in Abbot Point, Bowen.{{Cite web |title=Our Launch Services |url=https://www.gspace.com/launch|access-date=2025-02-21 |website=www.gspace.com}}
See also
{{Portal|Queensland}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Official}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20090812052746/http://www.infomarine.gr/australia/abbotpoint Abbot Point] on Infomarine On-Line
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20110104200333/http://www.ga.gov.au/bin/gazd01?rec=122594 Abbot Point] on Geoscience Australia
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Category:Ports and harbours of Queensland
Category:Coal mining in Queensland