22/08/08 – IPRA WITHDRAWS HERONS CREEK PROPOSAL

International Power Australia (IPRA) has withdrawn its application to the New South Wales Department of Planning for a small peaking plant at Herons Creek on the mid north coast of New South Wales.
This follows the decision of the Port Macquarie-Hastings Council to retain ownership of the proposed peaking plant site and subsequent advice from the Department of Planning that it could not determine the application without the consent of the landowner.
IPRA Group Manager, Corporate Affairs, Mr Jim Kouts said the company was extremely disappointed at the Council Administrator’s decision to withdraw support for the project.
“The company would not have pursued the project in the first instance without that in-principal support as evidenced by the council’s statutory declaration accompanying our application,” Mr Kouts said.
“After considering our options, we have now formally notified the Department we are withdrawing our application.”

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. More information is available on www.ipplc.com.au