Early closure looms for Queensland’s coal-fired power plant
Owners of the state’s largest coal-fired power plant say it could close within years, putting hundreds of jobs at risk.
One state’s largest and oldest coal-fired power station could be shut down within four years, dramatically expediting the timeline for the plant’s closure.
The owners of Gladstone Power Station in central Queensland, announced on Wednesday the plant might be retired as early as March 2029, six years ahead of schedule.
While no final decision had been made on the future of the almost 50-year-old facility, staff were notified about the closure plan.
Gladstone’s joint-venture owners promised “transparent and timely engagement with employees, contractors and suppliers” throughout the process.
Resources giant Rio Tinto is the largest shareholder in the joint venture, which also includes Texas-based firm NRG Energy.
The Australian Energy Market Operator was also notified of the potential early closure, although the date could be pushed back “should market and other factors allow”, the power station’s owners said.
Gladstone Power Station has operated since 1976 and has a capacity of 1680MW, making it the largest of Queensland’s eight coal-fired power stations.
It supplies power to the nearby Boyne Smelters, Australia’s second-largest aluminium smelter, which are also majority-owned by Rio Tinto.
The state’s Liberal National Party government recently backed the future of coal-fired power in Queensland, with Treasurer David Janetzki saying the fossil fuel would remain part of its energy network for the foreseeable future.
Premier David Crisafulli said he was unaware of the announcement about Gladstone’s future, but was “genuinely optimistic about the future of mining and manufacturing in this state”.
“(That) is why we need to get an energy plan which is affordable, reliable and sustainable,” he said on Wednesday.
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The Queensland Conservation Council hailed the Gladstone decision as further evidence that industry was getting on with the transition to renewable energy.
“Rio Tinto is Queensland’s biggest energy user and they’ve made it clear they can’t keep their Gladstone operations and smelter globally competitive relying on expensive coal power,” director Dave Copeman said.
“We are calling on the Crisafulli government to stop playing politics, and be up-front with the community by planning for the timely closure of the state’s other ageing coal power stations.”
– with AAP
