[Greens-Media] Minerals Minister Macdonald must come clean on government deal with China Shenhua

[Susie Gemmell]

Media Release
5 May 2010

Minerals Minister Macdonald must come clean on government deal with China Shenhua

Greens MP Lee Rhiannon today called on NSW Mineral Resources Minister Ian Macdonald to disclose the deal struck between the NSW government and China Shenhua Energy following comments this week by Shenhua's senior vice-president Mr Wang that the company was considering mining underneath rivers and building a coal-fired power plant on the Liverpool Plains.

China Shenhua is China's biggest coal mining and energy company. 

"Minister Macdonald needs to come clean about the deal struck with China Shenhua when he visited China and accepted a $300 million coal exploration fee," Ms Rhiannon said.

"Mr Wang's comments that the company could mine under the Namoi River and build a coal-fired power plant in Gunnedah have created shockwaves in the farming community.

"It's time that Minister Macdonald told the community the truth about any commitment his government has given to China Shenhua.

"Clearly China Shenhua feels it has a mandate from the NSW government to expand its mining operations into the Liverpool Plains as it sees fit.

"China Shenhua Energy started buying up prime agricultural land in the Liverpool Plains last year, confident that approval would be granted for its mining venture to go ahead.

"Mr Wang's expectation about mining underneath the Namoi River when the project has not even been approved belies previous assurances that mining would be restricted to ridge country and would not be on black soils. 

"The community is right to question if the future of agriculture in the Liverpool Plains has been placed in China's Shenhua's hands.

"For all we know, current coal exploration activities by China Shenhua could already be causing lasting damage to the water sources of the Liverpool Plains.

"Minister Macdonald should also come clean about the amount of water already being used for exploration in the Watermark lease.

"Last year Greens Leader Bob Brown moved a motion in the Senate calling on the federal government to stop mining exploration in the Liverpool Plains until an independent water study is conducted.

"It is wrong for China Shenhua to foreshadow mining underneath rivers and a new coal-fired power plant in Gunnedah when we are still waiting for the independent water study," Ms Rhiannon said.


For more information: 9230 3551, 0427 861 568



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Susie Gemmell
Adviser, Greens MLC Lee Rhiannon (Mon-Thur)
Macquarie St, Sydney 2000
Tel: +61-2-9230 3551 Fax: +61-2-9230 3550
Mobile: 0431 458 102
Email susie.gemmell at parliament.nsw.gov.au
http://www.leerhiannon.org.au
http://www.democracy4sale.org/ 
http://twitter.com/leerhiannon