Management of the terminal also said the activists were "extremely fortunate to not have been seriously injured or killed" and only survived because staff spotted them during an inspection.

The protest began about 10.30pm on Thursday when five activists "locked" themselves onto the terminal, which can process up to 130,000 tonnes of coal per day, according to the activist group Front Line Action on Coal.

After seven hours the protesters were arrested and escorted from the terminal.

Adani fired back at the group through a statement on Friday evening, with Abbot Point Port Operations CEO Dwayne Freeman saying the activists could have easily been killed.

"I am extremely concerned and disappointed in the actions of protest groups and the five protesters who made the foolish decision last night to lock onto one of our coal conveyors at the Abbot Point Port," he said.

"These people, who have no experience, knowledge or understanding of the operations involved with a heavy industrial site like ours are extremely fortunate to not have been seriously injured or killed.

"Such dire consequences were only avoided due to the diligence of our operational staff, who were inspecting the plant and became aware that the protesters had locked on to a live and operational automated conveyor system.

"We respect the right of people to conduct a peaceful protest, but the protests that we are now seeing are no longer peaceful. This was highlighted last night where police and local workers were subjected to threats of physical violence and death threats."

However, a spokesperson for Front Line Action on Coal said Mr Freeman's comments were "incorrect".

"Activists entered an area where a conveyor belt operates remotely without workers being nearby," the activist group said in a statement.

"The machine was stopped using standard industrial safety procedures. Afterwards, workers entered the area to look at the stopped machine, as they would do on any given day.

"Upon realising that people were on the work site, the police were called. The suggestion that anybody endangered the lives of staff at the port during this process is absurd.

"One of the activists involved in shutting down the Abbot Point Terminal today, Jeffrey Cantor, is an ex-mine worker with an extensive knowledge of machinery and operations used at Abbot Point Terminal due to his eight years of work in the field."

All five protesters were charged with interfering with operations of a port, high-risk activity, trespass, disobeying direction and obstructing police. They were all due to appear at the Bowen Magistrates Court on February 13.