Adani upset at science
Print
Adani has accused researchers of trying to derail Australia’s coal export industry.
The company has reacted poorly to the publication of a study suggesting that its Carmichael coal mine in Queensland may be diverting water from the protected Doongmabulla Springs, a site of ecological and cultural importance.
The researchers found that the springs, situated near the mine, are fed by “multiple groundwater sources” and are “more vulnerable to mining impacts than previously assumed”.
Using radioisotope tracing, the study concluded that mining is “likely” to divert water flows away from the springs.
The findings were published in the Journal of Hydrology after over three years of research and a year-long peer review process.
Bravus Mining and Resources, Adani’s Australian subsidiary, has rejected the study’s conclusions, calling them inconsistent with earlier independent assessments and regulatory approvals.
The company also claimed that some researchers involved have a history of opposing the Carmichael project.
“This journal article is their latest tactic to discredit our comprehensive groundwater research and monitoring programs,” a Bravus spokesperson has told reporters.
Professor Matt Currell of Griffith University, a co-author of the study, dismissed Adani's allegations as “baseless slurs”.
He said the study relied on independent funding sources, including a federal grant, to ensure scientific credibility.
“If they can find me a piece of research that's not paid for by their company that contradicts anything we said, then I'm happy to read it,” he said.
The Queensland Department of Environment, Science and Innovation (DESI) last week said it would incorporate the new findings into ongoing regulatory checks of the mine.
The study found water samples from the springs containing elements up to 500,000 years old, suggesting a deeper aquifer system than previously identified by Adani.
While Adani claims that the springs are sustained solely by the Clematis Sandstone, researchers argue that deeper aquifers, potentially connected to the coal seam, may be contributing to the water supply.
The dispute adds to Adani's regulatory challenges.
The company is appealing an environmental protection order imposed by the state government after CSIRO found its groundwater modelling inadequate.
The miner has until the end of 2025 to revise its impact assessments and groundwater predictions.