Kevin's Corner Coal Mine

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The Kevin's Corner Project is a proposed 30-million-tonnes-per-annum coal mine to be operated by Hancock Galilee, a wholly-owned subsidiary of GVK Group and located 160 kilometers west of Emerald, in Queensland, Australia's Galilee Basin.[1] The mine is adjacent to the Alpha Coal Project.

As of 2023, the project, which had been considered shelved in recent years, is reportedly reactivated.[2]

Location

The satellite image below shows the approximate location of the mine in Queensland, Australia.[3]

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Background

The mine began its application process in 2009.[4]

In 2010, the coal company said that the project will consist of three underground longwall mines and two open-cut pits.[5] Kevin's Corner mine plan is designed to increase to full production over a period of five to seven years after a two year construction period to first coal.[1]

If all three of GVKHancock coal's Galilee projects were to start operating, Kevin's Corner Coal Project, Alpha Coal Project and Alpha West coal project would use the same rail link to Abbot Point coal terminal before the coal is exported. The three mines will also share site based infrastructure such as electric power lines, water supply, airports and roads.[6]

Kevin's Corner was proposed by Gina Rinehart's Hancock Prospecting,[7] until it was completely bought by Hancock Galilee, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of the GVK Group, in 2011.[1]

The EIS for the Kevin's Corner Coal Project was "approved with conditions" in 2013. However, according to Environmental Law Australia, since that time, both the applications for the Alpha Coal Mine and the Kevin’s Corner coal mine have largely stagnated. The proponents have supported lengthy delays in the lead-up to the objections hearing for the Kevin’s Corner Mine in 2015 (in stark contrast, most mine applicants seek expedited hearings to minimise delays). The reason for the proponents’ support for the delays appears to be due to them deciding the mines were not financially viable with the low price of thermal coal from 2012-2016 and the poor outlook for the coal market. While the applications for the mines have not been withdrawn and continue as of September 2019, whether the mines actually proceed in the future appears to be dependent on a substantial recovery of the coal price and outlook for the coal market.[4]

The Coordinator-General extended the currency period for the Environmental Impact Statement Evaluation Report from 31 May 2017 to 31 May 2019.[8]

If started, Kevin's Corner would have a life of mine of 30 years, and would produce 30 million tonnes of coal per annum. Coal would be exported via a newly constructed railway to the Abbot Point Coal Terminal.[4]

At present there is no mining in the Galilee Basin. The opening of Adani's Carmichael Coal Project would change this and could mean that a number of the other proposals in the area are also advanced, so the Kevin's Corner project may still go ahead. The Queensland Resources Council has said the projects other than the Carmichael mine would have a "much easier run" if the rail line was already established and the environmental approvals had been cleared for Carmichael.[9]

Project Cost

The Queensland Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation states that the "estimated $6.6 billion investment in the Kevin’s Corner mine includes a $2.5 contribution towards this common user infrastructure ($1.5 billion for the rail and $1 billion for the port)."[10]

Project Revitalization

The Kevin's Corner project was shelved several years ago. However, after a decade of being mothballed, the State Government has confirmed that mining lease applications have been reactivated.[11]

Project Details

  • Operator: Hancock Galilee[1]
  • Owner: GVK Group[1]
  • Location: 160 kilometers west of Emerald, Queensland, Australia[3]
  • GPS Coordinates: -23.085191, 146.427147 (exact)
  • Status: Proposed
  • Production Capacity: 30 mtpa[4]
  • Total Resource: 4.2 billion tonnes[1]
  • Minable Reserves: 473 million tonnes[1]
  • Coal Type: Thermal[1]
  • Mine Size: 8,000 hectares[5]
  • Mine Type: Underground longwall mining and open-cut operations[1]
  • Start Year:
  • Source of Financing:

Contact details

Website: http://www.gvkhancockcoal.com/our-assets/kevin-s-corner
Website: Queensland Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation http://www.deedi.qld.gov.au/cg/kevins-corner-project.html

Articles and resources

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 GVK Hancock Coal, "Kevin's Corner", Hancock Coal website, accessed 16 September 2019.
  2. John McCarthy, "Zombie coal: Clive and Gina fight to bring $18 billion of projects back from dead", In Queensland, 19 April 2022.
  3. 3.0 3.1 Queensland Government, "Coordinated projects map", Queensland Government Department of State Development, accessed 16 September 2019.
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Environmental Law Australia, "Kevin’s Corner Coal Mine Case",accessed 16 September 2019.
  5. 5.0 5.1 Galilee Basin, "Kevin's Corner", accessed 16 September 2019.
  6. Hancock Coal, "Hancock’s Galilee Coal Basin Projects – 'The Galilee is now open for business'", Hancock Coal & Hancock Galilee, March 2011, page 2. (Pdf)
  7. Queensland Government, "Kevin's Corner Project", State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning website, 7 June 2019.
  8. Jemima Burt, "Adani could be 'ice-breaker' for six more proposed Galilee Basin mines, resources body says" ABC News, 11 June 2019.
  9. Queensland Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation, "Kevin's Corner", Queensland Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation website, accessed September 2011.
  10. John McCarthy, "Zombie coal: Clive and Gina fight to bring $18 billion of projects back from dead", In Queensland, 19 April 2022.

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