India's GVK wins state nod for $6.3 billion Australia coal mine

India's GVK Power & Infrastructure has won environmental approval from the state of Queensland for its A$6.4 billion ($6.30 billion) Alpha coal project, clearing a key hurdle towards winning a lease for the Australian mine. The approval from Queensland's coordinator-general sets a range of conditions for building a mine designed to produce 30 million metric tonnes (33.1 million tons) a year of thermal coal and a 495 km (310 mile) rail line from the mine to the port of Abbot Point. "It's another step towards getting a mining lease and final approvals," GVK's spokesman Chris Bombolas said.