Adani halts work on Australia's Carmichael coal mine; is the co scrapping the project?

India’s Adani Mining has asked its four engineering contractors working on the Carmichael project to halt work around the mine, the Guardian Australia reported citing people familiar with the matter. Halting work at this stage of the project made no sense even as a savings measure, and raises speculation that the Indian company might scrap the project altogether, Guardian Australia said. [caption id=“attachment_2282886” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Gautam Adani. Reuters[/caption] Adani has signed up buyers for about 70 percent of the 40 million tonnes coal the Carmichael project is due to produce in its first phase, with production expected to begin in late 2017. Guardian Australia said it is understood that about 40 engineers working for one of Adani’s contractors, WorleyParsons, were among those pulled off the project. Tim Buckley of the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis, which opposes new coal developments said halting work at this stage “just crucifies the project”, the newspaper reported. Adani’s ambitions in Australia have been uncertain following a surprise election result in Australia’s coal-rich Queensland state, leading to a policy reversal, and heightened pressure to protect the Great Barrier Reef. Adani and its contractors Aecon, Aurecon, SMEC and WorleyParsons could not be reached for comment outside regular business hours. Reuters