The Government of Queensland favors Broken Hill Proprietary (BHP) Billiton as the sole developer of the new terminal at Abbot Point to increase support from its booming coal fields.

According to reports, two new coal terminals will be constructed at Abbot Point, which is Queensland's northern coal terminal near the bowen Basin mining area.

BHP, along with Hancock Coal, will both be given "preferred developer status" for the construction of the Abbot Point terminal.

A "preferred developer status" should mean that companies are chosen to build the ports if a support and grant was given by the government.

Presently, the Abbot Point Terminal is utilized exclusively by Swiss miner Xstrata. The said terminal has the capacity to carry 25 million tonnes per annum (mtpa).

However, the Queensland's northern coal fields are seeking to expand their existing terminal to 50 mtpa, which explains the proposed construction of the two new terminals.

The North Queensland Bulk Ports Corporation on Wednesday confirmed that BHP Billiton has been granted a "preferred developer status" for the terminal construction, with an initial capacity of 30 mtpa, which may increase up to 50 mtpa.

Hankock Coal will construct the other port with an initial capacity of 30 mtpa, and may expand up to 60 mtpa.

If both expansions are approved, the Abbot Point coal terminal would have a capacity of 160 mtpa.

The proposal for an increase of capacity at Abbot Point came after BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance recently disclosed its plans to expand Queensland's Hay Point coal terminal, with a capacity from 44 mtpa to 55 mpta.

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