11/08/08 – BURONGA PEAKING PLANT PROPOSAL GOES ON DISPLAY
International Power Australia’s plans for a peaking power plant generating up to 150MW near Buronga in south-western New South Wales will go on public display from 11 August 2008.
The $110 million proposal is a direct response to increased electricity demand in the region and, in particular, the need for greater generation capacity during peak periods such as during the height of summer and winter.
The National Electricity Market operator NEMMCO has also highlighted a number of limiting factors impacting on the effectiveness of the inter-regional interconnector between NSW and Victoria. It is anticipated that the proposed peaking plant would assist in alleviating these market concerns.
The facility proposed by International Power Australia (IPRA) would operate on an as-required basis for an anticipated maximum period of up to 10 per cent of any year to help meet the rising peak electricity demand in the region.
The Department of Planning (DoP) has announced that the proposal will be on public exhibition until September 12, 2008 at:
• DoP Information Centre, 23-33 Bridge Street, Sydney
• Nature Conservation Council, 301 Kent Street, Sydney
• Wentworth Council, Wentworth
• Buronga Library, Chapman Street, Buronga
Submissions on the proposal are invited during the public exhibition period.
Representatives of IPRA and its Environmental Consultant – URS will also hold public information sessions at:
• The Wentworth Town Hall (community meeting room), corner of Short St and Adelaide St, Wentworth on Wednesday August 13, 2008 from 2pm to 6pm; and
• The Midway Community Centre (function room) on the Sturt Highway between Buronga and Gol Gol on Thursday August 14, 2008 from 10am to 3pm.
IPRA publicly announced that it had lodged the proposal with the New South Wales Department of Planning in November 2006 and has been undertaking a comprehensive environmental assessment report as part of the approval process.
The facility would comprise, subject to final plant selection, three separate open cycle gas turbine generating units, each of up to 40MW-50MW capacity. These will be capable of operating individually or in conjunction, together providing a high level of reliable generation capacity within the region. The turbines would be capable of later conversion to fire natural gas should sufficient natural gas supplies become commercially available in the future.
The plant would be located on 4.1 hectares adjacent to the TransGrid 220kV switching station on the Arumpo Road, approximately 10km northeast of Buronga. This location facilitates connection to the national electricity grid. IPRA has secured land lease arrangements should the project be approved.
IPRA Group Manager, Corporate Affairs Mr Jim Kouts said the company had submitted its draft environmental assessment report to the Department and the next stage was a four-week public exhibition phase, during which submissions from members of the public and other government agencies would be received.
As with all major projects, International Power’s investment would be subject to normal commercial review and International Power Board approval.
The plant would take approximately six months to build.
IPRA is a wholly owned subsidiary of International Power plc, a UK-based independent power generation and operation company. International Power Plc has interests in 40 power stations in 20 countries around the world, is listed on the London Stock Exchange and has a current market capitalisation in excess of A$12 billion. Since becoming established in Australia in 1996, IPRA has invested in excess of A$5 billion and focused on becoming a leading player in the energy industry. The company owns and operates more than 3600MW of renewable, gas-fired and brown coal-fired generating plants in Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia. It also has an energy retailing operation in Victoria and South Australia called Simply Energy. It also is an equal equity partner in the SEA Gas pipeline.
