Tag Archives: Lucas Dow

Martinus wins another Carmichael rail contract with Adani Australia

Coal technology, Mineral project development, Mining equipment, Mining services, , , , , , , , , ,

Adani has awarded a plus-A$220 million ($139.3 million) civil construction contract to Martinus to build a critical section of the railway for the Carmichael coal project, in Queensland, Australia.

The contract for the Carmichael Rail Network will see the Australia rail company deliver 86 km of rail formation works, a road over rail bridge, nine waterway bridges, more than 200 culverts and 35 rail crossings.

Late last year, Martinus was awarded the track works component, worth more than A$100 million, to deliver around 210 km of narrow-gauge rail from the Carmichael mine to the existing rail infrastructure.

The transport network underpins the first stage of the 10 Mt/y coal project at Carmichael, which was given the thumbs up to start construction in 2019. It will see a narrow gauge rail network built that connects to existing rail infrastructure and goes from the mine to the Port of Abbot Point. The initial design capacity of this line is for 40 Mt/y, with the ability to further expand, according to Adani.

Martinus CEO and Managing Director, Treaven Martinus, said: “Our focus has been to be the best large-scale railway construction contractor in Australia and being a part of this project enables us to fulfil that vision.”

He added: “Our 600-strong project delivery workforce will be based in Townsville and Rockhampton and partnering with local and other regional Queensland businesses and people, while also upholding the highest standards of project delivery across environmental and safety conditions.”

Adani Mining CEO, Lucas Dow, said the contract with Martinus would deliver some 600 new jobs, which was more important than ever as the local community braces to withstand the economic shifts being brought about by the COVID-19 virus.

“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 also understand how important it is to continue our operations where safe and practicable to provide certainty of employment for our staff and contractors. I want to make it clear that the health and safety of our staff is our first priority, however, where we are able to continue to operate safely and in line with advice, we will do so.”

Dow said the company had implemented measures including social distancing, health screening and increased hygiene in the hope more of its contractors, suppliers and the businesses that depend on the company can also “weather the storm, keeping their doors open, services running, and importantly provide certainty of employment”.

In addition to the Martinus announcement, Adani said assembly of its first mining trucks was now complete, with two heavy vehicles having left Mackay, in Queensland, to make the plus-300 km trip to the Carmichael mine site this week.

These are the first of more than 24 trucks being assembled in Mackay, which is thought to include electric drive Caterpillar 796 AC (327 t) models.

Adani signs up Martinus for Carmichael rail contract

Coal technology, Mineral project development, Mining services, , , , , , , , ,

Adani has announced a more than A$100 million ($68 million) rail contract for the Carmichael thermal coal project has been awarded to Martinus Rail, with the contractor set to base itself out of Adani’s newly opened Rockhampton Business Centre (pictured).

The contract award and delivery out of the centre will ensure “Rockhampton businesses and people will be in prime position to participate in the contract delivery”, the company said.

The development of the first stage 10 Mt/y coal mine at Carmichael, which was given the thumbs up to start construction earlier this year, will lead to the building of a circa-200 km narrow gauge rail network that connects to existing rail infrastructure and goes from the mine to the Port of Abbot Point. The initial design capacity of this line is for 40 Mt/y, with the ability to further expand, according to Adani.

Adani Mining CEO, Lucas Dow, said more than A$450 million worth of contracts had already been awarded on the Carmichael project, the majority to regional Queensland areas.

“Since receiving our approvals we have not wasted a moment. Construction on the Carmichael mine and rail project is well and truly underway on site, and our big contracts are now also lined up as we ramp up activity.”

He added: “We now have our mining services contractor and one of our earthworks contractors for the rail project in place based in Rockhampton, Martinus Rail will be our rail laying construction contractor also in based in Rockhampton, initial rail camp provision will be based in Collinsville, earthworks and civil works is coming from Townsville, fuel supply is from Townsville, telecommunications is from Mackay, and many other regional businesses across regional Queensland also have a piece of the pie,” he said.

Managing Director for Martinus Rail, Treaven Martinus, said Martinus is a large-scale railway construction contractor with a focus on delivering regional railways for mining and government clients across Australia and New Zealand. “Our business delivers large-scale regional rail projects across Australia and we do it successfully by tapping into the local workforce, which is a commercially viable approach for us while also providing training, skills and benefits for local communities,” he said.

Dow, meanwhile, said the new Adani Rockhampton Business Centre would provide a local base for major procurement and recruitment programs for the Carmichael project during the construction phase and during operations.

“Our new Rockhampton Business Centre will help us ensure Rockhampton and Townsville, where we have an existing office, act as the primary employment hubs for the Carmichael project,” he said.

The business centre will be a base for recruitment and procurement activity and will be used for training sessions, meet the buyer sessions, recruitment interviews, staff induction programs, act as a base for some of our contractors and more.

Adani Mining’s Carmichael coal mine plan gets the thumbs up

Coal technology, Environmental, Mineral project development, Mining policy, Sustainable mining, Water management, , , , , , , , , ,

Adani Mining’s plan to build a 10 Mt/y open-pit thermal coal mine and associated infrastructure in the Galilee Basin of Queensland, Australia, looks like moving forward after the company sealed the final approvals it requires to start construction.

Lucas Dow, CEO Adani Mining, confirmed that the company had received advice from the Queensland Government’s Department of Environment and Science (DES) that the Groundwater Dependent Ecosystems Management Plan (GDEMP) had been finalised and approved.

“This is confirmation the plan complies with all regulatory conditions set by the Australian and State Governments, bringing to a close a two-year process of rigorous scientific enquiry, review and approvals,” he said. “This includes relevant reviews by Australia’s pre-eminent scientific organisations CSIRO and Geoscience Australia.”

The development of the first stage 10 Mt/y coal mine will also lead to the building of a circa-200 km narrow gauge rail network that connects to existing rail infrastructure and goes from the mine to the Port of Abbot Point. The initial design capacity of this line is for 40 Mt/y, with the ability to further expand, according to Adani.

The project has faced significant opposition from non-governmental organisations and other associations worried about the impact the mine may have on the local area.

Dow continued: “The finalisation of the GDEMP and Black-throated Finch Management Plan paves the way for construction to commence on the Carmichael project and the delivery of much-needed jobs for regional Queenslanders.

“Moving forward, our priority is ensuring the safety of everyone who works on the project and that all construction activity meets the strict environmental requirements we have agreed to meet in our management plans and approvals.”

Wood Mackenzie Principal Analyst, Viktor Tanevski, said, in another statement, the firm remained “cautious” on the timeframe for delivery of first coal onto a vessel from the operation given the “sizeable task of building out both a new large-scale mine and greenfield rail connection”.

He said: “We anticipate at least a 12-month delay to Adani’s target of first coal exports, approximately two years from the commencement of construction, predominantly associated with delays in the construction of rail.”

The DES, in a separate statement, said it requires additional commitments from Adani to undertake further scientific work over the next two years. This is needed to identify any potential contribution from other aquifers and strengthen the GDEMP.

“Adani is also required to review hydrological, hydrochemistry analyses and seismic information as part of its second geological and groundwater remodelling after box cut mining starts, and review seismic information pertaining underground mining impacts (which is scheduled to start in year 10 of the project),” DES said. “Further seismic studies may also need to be undertaken.”

According to DES, underground mining at Carmichael will not commence until the actions are completed and only if “predicted impacts are consistent with approved impacts”.

“Likewise, if the hydrogeological conceptualisation differs from that of the approved project, approval must be sought prior to relevant impact causing activities,” it said.

Adani’s Dow said, over the coming days, preparatory activities such as finalising contracts, mobilising equipment, recruitment and completing inductions will continue. These actions will enable the company to start construction activities, including fencing, bridge and road upgrades, water management and civil earthworks on the mine site, with the level of construction activity then steadily increasing over the coming weeks.

The original plan at Carmichael, as stated in the Environmental Impact Statement, was for an open-pit and underground coal mine with a yield of 60 Mt/y. The planned A$16.5 billion ($11.2 billion) investment would see the development of six open pits and five underground mines, five mine infrastructure areas, a coal handling and processing plant, heavy industrial area, water-supply infrastructure, rail line and off-site infrastructure, including workers’ accommodation village and airport, according to the EIS.