Coalition yet to pay $3.3m grant for Collinsville coal power station as negotiations with company stall

Exclusive: Guardian Australia understands discussions between the government and Queensland firm Shine Energy have become fraught

The federal government has not yet paid a $3.3m grant for a feasibility study on the proposed Collinsville coal-fired power station in north Queensland - more than a year after the study was first announced - because negotiations to establish a formal funding agreement with the proponent have stalled.

The federal Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources told Guardian Australia it had not reached a funding agreement or provided any money to the tiny company Shine Energy for the study on the power station proposal, which was announced in March 2019 as a concession to pro-coal Queensland Nationals.