Lanco Resources Australia has secured conditional approval from the Environmental Protection Authority of Western Australia for development of a coal handling berth at Bunbury port.

This is part of the Griffin Coal mine project initiative of Lanco Resources Australia, a subsidiary of the diversified Lanco Infratech Ltd.

The project entails coal storage and loading facility to export 15 million tonnes of coal per annum from the Bunbury Port. The coal will be sourced from the proposed expansion of Griffin Coal mine project in the Collie Basin. It entails development of a berth, onshore coal storage and related infrastructure.

As per the proposals, the coal will be stored in big sheds to control dust and transferred to ships in enclosed conveyors.

According to a statement and reports in Australia, the Environment Protection Authority Chairman, Paul Vogel, the proposal is consistent with the Bunbury Port Authority's Inner Harbour structure plan, which is currently being assessed separately by the authority.

The proposal to develop infrastructure is under assessment for impact on several environmental factors. The company had to modify some of the proposals to meet the authority’s objectives for protecting the environmental.

When contacted, Naga Prasad K, COO, Business Development, Lanco Infra, refraining to comment on the issue said, “The matter is at an advanced stage of assessment.”

The environment authority wanted the company to develop a coal storage and loading facility at Burnbury Port. Public comments will be before the Environment Ministry takes a decision.

Lanco, which had acquired Griffin Coal in 2011, is in the process of increasing the production capacity from the mines and is awaiting regulatory clearances to expand operations.

rishikumar.vundi@thehindu.co.in

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