ASX Announcement 12 July 2010 Appointment of DBCT Management as...

ASX Announcement

12 July 2010

Appointment of DBCT Management as Preferred Proponent for New Coal Export Facility

Prime Infrastructure (ASX:PIH) notes the announcement by the Queensland Government-owned North Queensland Bulk Ports (NQBP), that Prime Infrastructure's subsidiary DBCT Management Pty Ltd (DBCT Management) has been appointed as one of two preferred proponents for the development of new coal export terminal facilities at Dudgeon Point in the Port of Hay Point.

A copy of NQBP's announcement is available at NQBP's website.

Prime Infrastructure welcomes the NQBP announcement as it provides DBCT Management with the necessary path for it to access the land required for the expansion of Dalrymple Bay Coal Terminal (DBCT) in response to the extensive additional access applications that DBCT Management has received from existing and new customers for the expansion of DBCT.

Dudgeon Point is located approximately 4km north of DBCT and the expansion of DBCT into the Dudgeon Point site is one of several expansion pathways under active consideration by DBCT Management.

DBCT Management looks forward to working with NQBP on the expeditious development of a Master Plan for the Dudgeon Point site and aims to complete the master planning process with NQBP in the shortest possible timeframe, so that DBCT Management can accommodate the additional access requests as soon as possible.

This will in turn allow our customers, stakeholders and the wider Queensland economy to further capitalise to the maximum extent possible on the current strong competitive positioning of Queensland's Bowen Basin coal in the global market place.

Prime Infrastructure owns a 50.1% economic interest in DBCT.

ENDS
Further enquiries
David Akers
Investor Relations Manager
Prime Infrastructure
+ 61 2 9692 2870



News release from North Qld Bulk Ports Corporation:

Preferred Proponents Announced for Dudgeon Point

North Queensland Bulk Ports Corporation [NQBP] CEO announced today that DBCT Management and the Adani Group are the preferred proponents for the development of new coal export infrastructure at Dudgeon Point.

CEO, Brad Fish said "We are pleased to announce that the Government has endorsed proposals from DBCT Management and the Adani Group to participate with NQBP as preferred proponents in developing a master plan for coal export facilities at Dudgeon Point."

"NQBP has held this land for development since 2000. Its close proximity to the two coal terminals at Hay Point will support the increasing demand for coal from new and existing industry."

"Should the preferred proponents decide to proceed after the planning process, they will be required to fund their own construction and operations with the State Government retaining ownership of the underlying land," said Mr Fish.

The next step is for NQBP, DBCT Management and the Adani Group to prepare a master plan for coal export infrastructure at Dudgeon Point to assist the State and NQBP to evaluate options for meeting development demands. The master plan will assist in the potential allocation of land to each of the preferred proponents for the construction of coal export infrastructure with the balance of land retained by NQBP for future development.

The master planning studies will also give consideration to any environmental sensitivities at Dudgeon Point.

DBCT Management leases the adjacent Dalrymple Bay Coal Terminal which it has recently expanded to 85 million tonnes per annum, which is the maximum capacity on the available footprint. DBCT Management plans to provide new capacity in the Port of Hay Point in response to access requests that DBCT Management has advised it has received from customers of the expansion of DBCT.

Adani Group is a large conglomerate based in India and is the operator of the largest private port in that country. It is involved in many other businesses including power generation and coal mining.

Dudgeon Point is located approximately 15 kilometres south of Mackay on the Queensland Coast and lies within the Port of Hay Point about four kilometres north of the existing coal terminals.

For more information contact:
Mary Steele
NQBP Corporate Relations
T: (07) 3224 4346