In media reports this week, the largest coal producer in the world, Shenhua Energy, is so concerned about infrastructure in NSW that it is considering building coal-fired power stations near its planned mining operation in the Gunnedah basin and burning the coal on site.

Also, the senior vice-president of Shenhua Energy, the parent company of Shenhua Watermark, says there will be mining “under the river” on the Liverpool Plains.

So just how will these dovetail into Penny Wongs  ‘Water for the Future’ MDB plan for a ‘strong and vibrant future for agriculture’, or Minister Macdonalds ‘no mining under the floodplain’ guarantee?

 Chinese Whispers 

Update: Shenhua regrets a translation error with respect to mining under rivers.