Australia’s Trade, Tourism & Investment Minister, Simon Birmingham, has said that the approvals given to Adani Group’s Carmichael mining project were rigorous and will stand legal scrutiny, reports The Hindu BusinessLine.

“My understanding is that Carmichael project has essentially received all necessary environmental approvals, but it still has some plans that will have to be finally approved within the conditions of the operation that have been granted till date,” said Birmingham.

Adani Group bought the greenfield Carmichael coal mine in central Queensland in 2010, and the company has stated that it plans to invest around $15 billion into the project. This will facilitate India’s access to high-quality coal to replace the inferior one found in the country’s coalfields.

“However, in recent years, our project has faced intense resistance abetted by some international NGOs and competitors who have turned to vicious personal attacks and used the press to their advantage,” Gautam Adani, chairman of Adani Group stated, referring to the protests that have flared up against the project due to alleged climate change concerns.

“I am very confident that environmental approval processes that we have followed in the Carmichael project have been rigorous and thorough and comprehensive,” the Minister added, when asked if the project would survive a court battle.