Regional Queensland set to reap Indian benefits

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has wrapped up her 11 day, three nation trade mission with a visit to India’s biggest port.

The 135 square kilometre Mundra Special Economic Zone in Gujarat state exports Suzuki cars to Japan, has 19 container cranes, and is home to a state-of-the-art commercial solar panel factory.

Adani is awaiting for approval to start building a 150MW solar farm near Moranbah, which would be the largest single location solar farm in Australia.

Adani already operates the world’s largest single site solar plant in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, which generates 648 MW.

The Premier visited Mundra port with eight regional Queensland mayors; Jenny Hill from Townsville, Margaret Strelow from Rockhampton, Greg Williamson from Mackay, Matt Burnett from Gladstone, Andrew Wilcox from Whitsunday, Liz Schmidt from Charters Towers, Anne Baker from Isaac and Kerry Hayes from Central Highlands.

“These Mayors represent one in every seven Queenslanders, and 14 percent of Queensland’s area,” the Premier said.

“Their commitment to travel so far to be here today shows they share my conviction in how important a role a company like Adani can play in the future development of regional Queensland.

“This visit will help ensure state and local leaders are aware of all the opportunities that exist here to create jobs and build economic growth in regional Queensland.”

The solar panel plant, which relies heavily on robotics to ensure the highest quality panel production, can currently produce one million commercial grade panels per year, capable of generating 300 MW.

By next year production is set to double to two millions panels, and at full production will produce four million panels each year, capable of generating 1,200MW.

That annual production would be more than a quarter of Queensland’s current total output from thermal power stations.

The Queensland delegation inspected much of the 40km coastline of the Mundra port, which still has the capacity to increase its current dock facility tenfold in an effort to meet the needs of India’s growing middle class.

“The Adani project means thousands of jobs for regional Queensland,” said the Premier.

“For regional India, it means a better chance of reliable electricity supply, something we take for granted.

“Every day, tens of millions of Indians have to put up with power supply disruptions because India can’t produce enough electricity to power the whole country.”

Queensland can also help India address the supply of another necessity of life, protein.

Hundreds of millions of Indians are vegetarians, so rely on pluses like chickpeas and lentils for their protein intake.

For a population of 1.3 billion people, that can mean single export orders in excess of one million tonnes, a quantity that presents a challenging but lucrative opportunity for Queensland farmers.

The Premier and mayors inspected Adani’s liquid food joint venture with Wilmar, which can produce 4,000 tonnes of cooking oil produced per day.

Mundra port also has a grain capacity of 500,000 tonnes and another 500,000 tonnes of fertiliser storage capacity

“Adani have made it clear to me they want to establish a new business unit in Queensland each year,” the Premier said.

“They have indicated that agriculture is next in line, meaning we need to work with Queensland farmers to identify the right locations to grow the right crops to feed this enormous population.”

Media Contact: Geoff Breusch                        0417 272 875