Published Tuesday, 12 June, 2007 at 02:53 PM
Premier and Minister for Trade
The Honourable Peter Beattie
PREMIER WELCOMES DECISION TO BUILD BRAEMAR GAS-FIRED POWER STATION
Premier Peter Beattie today welcomed Origin Energy’s announcement that it will build a 630MW gas-fired power station over the next three years near Braemar in the Darling Downs.
It is estimated the new generation plant will, when compared to traditional coal fired power station, save 2.5 million tonnes of greenhouse gases.
Mr Beattie witnessed the signing of the contracts for the $780 million power station.
“On June 3rd I released my government’s $414 million climate change strategy ClimateSmart 2050 which lays out the Government’s plan to lower the greenhouse gas emissions,” Mr Beattie said.
“On that day I gave the people of Queensland a commitment that we would continue to secure low cost electricity supplies for them.
“Today’s announcement that Origin Energy will build the biggest combined cycle power station in Australia will help my Government meet that commitment.
“With enough power to supply the equivalent of 400,000 Queensland homes the Darling Downs Power Station is another step towards our target of having 18 percent of our energy coming from gas by 2020.
“Generating power by using natural gas produces up to 50 per cent fewer emissions than coal.
“I know the people of the Darling Downs will also welcome the 300 construction jobs and 25 operational positions which will flow from this decision,” Mr Beattie said.
The gas for the plant will come from coal seam gas reserves at Spring Gully and the Walloon. Some $500 Million will be spent on the development of these fields and pipeline infrastructure.
Construction is expected to begin in August 2007, with commissioning to occur in the fourth quarter of 2009.
The Premier said he was also pleased that the new power station would use significantly less water than existing power plants.
“Climate change has made all of us more aware of our water use and this new power station, being air cooled, will use less than 3 per cent of the water used by convention power stations.
“That’s a saving of 7800 megalitres per year,” Mr Beattie said.
Tuesday June 12, 2007
Media contact: Premier’s Office – 3224 4500
It is estimated the new generation plant will, when compared to traditional coal fired power station, save 2.5 million tonnes of greenhouse gases.
Mr Beattie witnessed the signing of the contracts for the $780 million power station.
“On June 3rd I released my government’s $414 million climate change strategy ClimateSmart 2050 which lays out the Government’s plan to lower the greenhouse gas emissions,” Mr Beattie said.
“On that day I gave the people of Queensland a commitment that we would continue to secure low cost electricity supplies for them.
“Today’s announcement that Origin Energy will build the biggest combined cycle power station in Australia will help my Government meet that commitment.
“With enough power to supply the equivalent of 400,000 Queensland homes the Darling Downs Power Station is another step towards our target of having 18 percent of our energy coming from gas by 2020.
“Generating power by using natural gas produces up to 50 per cent fewer emissions than coal.
“I know the people of the Darling Downs will also welcome the 300 construction jobs and 25 operational positions which will flow from this decision,” Mr Beattie said.
The gas for the plant will come from coal seam gas reserves at Spring Gully and the Walloon. Some $500 Million will be spent on the development of these fields and pipeline infrastructure.
Construction is expected to begin in August 2007, with commissioning to occur in the fourth quarter of 2009.
The Premier said he was also pleased that the new power station would use significantly less water than existing power plants.
“Climate change has made all of us more aware of our water use and this new power station, being air cooled, will use less than 3 per cent of the water used by convention power stations.
“That’s a saving of 7800 megalitres per year,” Mr Beattie said.
Tuesday June 12, 2007
Media contact: Premier’s Office – 3224 4500