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‘Go home’: Thousands protest across Australia against Adani’s coal mine project

Reuters | By
Oct 07, 2017 01:54 PM IST

Environment groups say the mine in Queensland state would contribute to global warming and damage the Great Barrier Reef.

Large protests were held across Australia on Saturday against Indian mining giant Adani Enterprises’ proposed Carmichael coal mine, which would be the country’s largest coal mine but has been delayed for years over environmental and financing issues.

A protester holds a sign as he participates in a national Day of Action against Adani's planned coal mine at Sydney's Bondi Beach in Australia.(Reuters Photo)
A protester holds a sign as he participates in a national Day of Action against Adani's planned coal mine at Sydney's Bondi Beach in Australia.(Reuters Photo)

Environment groups say the mine in Queensland state would contribute to global warming and damage the Great Barrier Reef.

The “Stop Adani” movement organised 45 protests.

On the sands of Sydney’s Bondi Beach more than 1,000 people formed a human sign saying ‘#STOP ADANI’, said organiser Blair Palese from activist group 350.

“I think there’s a very real national concern that goes beyond Queensland about the idea of giving this mine a billion-dollar taxpayer-funded loan,” she said.

The national rallies come as new polling shows more than half of Australians oppose the mine, reported local media.

Analysts have raised doubts about whether Adani can fund the mine, at an initial cost of $4 billion, given a global backlash to investment in fossil fuels.

A surfer carries his board as he walks in front of protesters participating in a national Day of Action against the Indian mining company Adani's planned coal mine project. (Reuters Photo)
A surfer carries his board as he walks in front of protesters participating in a national Day of Action against the Indian mining company Adani's planned coal mine project. (Reuters Photo)

Adani says the project would pay billions of dollars in royalties and taxes, create jobs and export coal to India help bring electricity to rural regions.

Adani has been counting on a A$900 million ($704 million) loan from the Northern Australian Infrastructure Facility (NAIF) for a rail link to the proposed mine.

The company’s chief executive officer Jeyakumar Janakaraj, however, has said Adani may not have to borrow from NAIF. “If the commercial banks take off all the debt then we will not have any need for NAIF as there will be no gap.”

The Australian Conservation Foundation president Geoff Cousins, one of the country’s top businessmen, said it was unlikely Adani could proceed without the NAIF loan.

“They’ve tried hard to secure commercial funding, but no bank will touch them,” he said.

Protesters hold signs as they participate in a national Day of Action. (Reuters Photo)
Protesters hold signs as they participate in a national Day of Action. (Reuters Photo)

“Stop Adani is an issues-based campaign, and the rest of the world sees the madness of building one of the world’s largest coal mines particularly when Australia has signed the Paris Agreement (on climate change).”

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