Berth 14 coal export terminal, Bunbury

The Berth 14 coal export terminal, Bunbury is a port upgrade being sought by Lanco Infratech, the parent company of Griffin Coal, to facilitate the export of 15 million tonnes of coal a year from its two major coal mines, the Muja Mine and the Ewington Mines.

Background
In early August 2011 Lanco Infratech representative met with the West Australian Premier Colin Barnett. According to a report in the West Australian, the meeting was to discuss the company's "hopes to complete an expansion of Bunbury Port's inner harbour by the end of 2013 to allow it to start exporting coal to India" after a tripling of production from the Collie coal mines.

It has been reported that Lanco has also floated the idea of exporting coal through the port of Albany. However, Albany Port Authority chief executive Brad Williamson stated that he knew nothing about the option. Local political representatives discounted the suggestion as Lanco trying to improve its bargaining position in negotiations with the State government. In early September 2011 Lanco announced that it planned to spend up to $400 million upgrading Berth 14 at the Bunbury Port to allow coal exports from Collie in 2014.

Lanco's proposal for coal exports involves the construction of a "a new rail loop and dump station as shown per Bunbury Port Authority, Bunbury Inner Harbour, Future Planning Options and Planning concepts." The Western Australian Environmental Protection Authority states that, as of August 3, 2011, an Environmental Scoping Document is currently being prepared by the agency.

Environmental Protection Agency recommends coal terminal
In mid-July 2013 the Western Australian Environmental Protection Agency recommended to the Minister for Environment that the proposal be approved, with some conditions. The proposed approval is open for public comment until the end of July 2013.

Resources

 * EPA report on proposed Coal Export Terminal: http://www.epa.wa.gov.au/EIA/EPAReports/Pages/1486-BunburyPortBerth14A.aspx

Related SourceWatch articles

 * Australia and coal
 * Railways and coal in Australia
 * Coal terminals

External resources

 * Rey Resources, "Derby Export Facility Remediation", Rey Resources website, June 2011.

External articles

 * Bunbury Port Berth 14, Development for Coal Storage and Loading Facility, Referral Supporting, Document, Lanco Resources Australia, April 2011