Lanco unit Griffin gets nod for Australian coal facility

The Environmental Protection Authority of Western Australia has conditionally approved the development of a 15-million tonne coal handling berth at Bunbury Port proposed by Griffin Coal, a unit of Lanco Resources Australia Pty Ltd.

Clearing the project with 12 conditions, the environment watchdog said Griffin Coal's proposal to develop a coal storage and loading facility at Berth 14 A at Burnbury Port, (175 kms from Perth) would be open for public comments till July 31 and the Environment Minister would take the final decision, according to a report by the EPA.

Griffin Coal proposes to develop coal storage and loading facilities at the Bunbury Port Inner Harbour. The berth would support the export of coal from Collie Basin, where the mines are located.
Griffin Coal, which was acquired by Lanco for AUD 730 million in March 2011, produced 4 million tonnes of coal last year. A senior official of the Lanco group had earlier said the project has three components -- an operating mine, development of another mine and a port.
The proposal is consistent with the Bunbury Port Authority's Inner Harbour structure plan, which is being assessed separately by the EPA as a strategic proposal, EPA Chairman Paul Vogel said in a statement. The structure plan's objectives are to guide future development and decision-making within the Inner Harbour.
The coal will be supplied from the proposed expansion of the company's operations at Collie Basin. The proposal includes the development of a berth pocket and associated onshore coal storage and export infrastructure. To control dust, the coal will be stored in large sheds and transferred to ships in enclosed conveyors.
Vogel said Griffin Coal modified the proposal in several areas, which would allow it to meet the EPA objectives for several key environmental factors, provided the recommended conditions are implemented.