Adani deadline for $18.5m water licence payment pushed back until mid-2021

Exclusive: Carmichael delays raise questions about whether Indian parent company has allocated the required finance

Adani has sought to delay significant upfront expenses for its Carmichael coalmine by another two years, raising questions about the company's claims its Indian parent has allocated the required finance.

Guardian Australia can reveal Adani was granted a reissued water licence to take up to 12.5bn litres a year from the Suttor River by the Queensland government on 29 May. The deadline for the $18.5m outstanding payment has now been pushed back until mid-2021.