Adani Mining chief executive Lucas Dow said before an industry crowd at the Bowen Basin Mining Club last week that, with it covering 100% of the financing for Carmichael, it will be kicking off construction efforts soon.

"Our work in recent months has culminated in Adani Group's approval of the revised project plan that de-risks the initial stage of the Carmichael mine and rail project by adopting a narrow gauge rail solution combined with a reduced ramp-up volume for the mine," Dow said.

"This means we've minimised our execution risk and initial capital outlay. The sharpening of the mine plan has kept operating costs to a minimum and ensures the project remains within the first quartile of the global cost curve."

The miner said its initial investment for the new plan will be about A$2 billion (US$1.5 billion), with the mine's production target between 10 and 15 million tonnes of coal annually. All coal produced in the initial ramp-up phase will be consumed by the Adani Group's captive requirements, the executive added.

The specific plan now called for a smaller-scale open-cut mine, particularly versus others in the Australian state, though it will ramp up production over time to 27.5Mt/y. The rail line adjustments will be completed to match the production schedule.

"The project stacks up both environmentally and financially," Dow told the crowd. "[The] announcement removes any doubt as to the project stacking up financially", adding that it will deliver promised jobs and opportunities - all without the use of taxpayer dollars.

Once online, the thermal Carmichael operation, located north of the Galilee Basin in central Queensland, will employ 1,500 people.