47 Australian Coal, Coal Seam Gas Projects Must Seek Environmental Approval

Reuters reported that the new Australian government has said that 47 key coal and coal seam gas projects need to seek national environmental approval. Greg Hunt, the country’s environment minister, wants the projects to be assessed for their impact on water supplies, among other things.

As quoted in the market news:

The projects include those led by global mining firms such as Anglo American, Adani Enterprises Ltd, Glencore Xstrata.

‘The assessment of each of these projects will include the project’s potential impacts on water resources in addition to the other matters protected under national environment law for which they were already being assessed,’ Hunt said in a statement.

‘Once the assessment process is complete I will carefully consider each assessment, the advice of my department, and all public comments received before deciding whether these proposals can go ahead.’

Click here to read the full Reuters report.