Environmentalists all over Brisbane are continuing to rally against the planned coal mine being built and developed by Xstrata, one of the biggest mining group worldwide.

Environmental groups in Australia such as Friends of the Earth are trying to stop the construction of the coal mine by appealing to the court. According to the group, they are refusing this construction because of it will be a cause of a massive climate change impact that will affect not only those who are living in Brisbane, but other parts of the world too, since the said coal mine will be the largest coal mine in the southern hemisphere. 30 million tonnes of coal are expected to be extracted from it for export.

According to Dr. Bradley Smith, spokesperson for Friends of the Earth, the coal mine will create an unacceptable amount of carbon dioxide pollution which has been estimated to be around 1.3 billion tonnes.

However, Xstrata lawyers are saying that they are willing to put an expert in the testimonial stand to clear up all the fears and speculations. The company is also saying that they have adhered to the best and most responsible environmental practice. They have also presented economic benefits such as the $336 million that can be earned in the operations and the $3.7 billion in royalties it is expected to earn over the 30-year lease, as well as their future plans such as the rehabilitation of the area when the mine closed.

Related Resources

1. Xstrata Mining Group- www.xstrata.com
2. Friends of the Earth Organisation – www.foe.org.au
3. Coal Mining Services – www.coalservices.com.au