Premier Anna Bligh today announced that proponents are being sought for a massive $6.2 billion expansion of the Abbott Point coal port.
The Premier said that up to four additional coal terminals would be built with a combined capacity of 120 million tonnes per annum.
"Queensland has the richest coal deposits in the world with the Bowen and Galilee Basins and this upgrade will help us meet world demand for our coal," Ms Bligh said.
"These expansions will further cement Queensland as the world's largest exporter of coal and are critical to the economy and wealth of Queensland.
"Combined with other planned expansions this upgrade would position Abbott Point as one of/the world's largest coal ports with seven coal terminals and a capacity of close to 300 million tonnes per annum.
"This would mean flow on jobs for Townsville and Mackay as major service centres in regional Queensland.
"Coal exports create thousands of jobs and help pay for our schools, hospitals and roads," she said.
Main Roads Minister Craig Wallace said that North Queensland Bulk Ports Corporation Limited (NQBP) is seeking proponents interested in developing the additional coal terminal infrastructure at Abbot Point.
"This would help make North Queensland the power house it deserves to be and Bowen would take its rightful place as one of Australia's leading export centres," Mr Wallace said.
"We are advertising an Expression of Interest both locally and nationally inviting companies to notify of their interest for the right to develop potentially four more coal terminals at the Port of Abbot Point.
Minister Walace said this Expressions of Interest process provided a unique opportunity for private industry to develop coal terminals in accordance with the overall port plan.
Each terminal would provide a nominal capacity of 30 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa), and be located within the Abbot Point State Development area in close proximity to a deep water port.
Allowing for the Expressions of Interest process, planning and design work, and if environmental approvals are gained construction could start in 2015 with the first coal exports from Terminal 4 in 2017.
The most recent expansion of the Abbot Point Coal Terminal (APCT) to take export capacity to 50 Mtpa, delivered its first coal through the new shiploader earlier this month.
This Terminal has been leased for 99 years to Mundra Ports, under the State Government's Renewing Queensland Plan.
The $1.8 billion proceeds will be directed to Queensland's natural disaster recovery.
Preliminary studies are already underway to further expand coal export facilities at the port.
Preferred Developers for Terminals 2 and 3, BHP Billiton and Hancock Coal, were announced in 2010 and are well underway with the design and necessary environmental approvals for the terminals.
"However, demand for high quality Queensland coal continues to grow, and the State Government is proactively planning for additional port infrastructure to ensure this demand can be satisfied," said Mr Wallace
Known as Terminals 4, 5, 6 and 7 (T4-7), they will utilise the proposed Multi Cargo Facility which is a key piece of infrastructure for the long term future for the Abbot Point State Development Area.
The T4-7 Terminals are one part of the critical infrastructure required to accommodate coal exports from the Bowen Basin and from the Galilee Basin.
Further information on the T4-7 Coal Terminals and the Expressions of Interest document is available on NQBP's website at www.nqbp.com.au.
