Closure questioned

MINING and Energy Union WA division secretary Greg Busson is confident Bluewaters Power Station will continue to operate past 2029.

“I bet my bottom dollar that Bluewaters will stay as long as it can,” he said this week.

His comments come after modelling released in the Australian Energy Market Operator’s (AEMO) latest assessment report of WA's domestic gas needs for the next 10 years could see the only privately-owned power station close at the same time as state-owned power generators.

AEMO forecast a major bump in demand for gas-fired power generation from 2030 as coal retirements took effect.

The report states the domestic gas market could be pushed further into deficit if coal supply continues to be restricted, leading to an increased demand for gas generation.

“AEMO is closely monitoring the coal supply situation in WA,” the report states.

AEMO’s modelling projects that increasing renewables penetration will be insufficient to fully compensate for the loss of coal-fired baseload power and gas generation will have to increase to complement renewable generation.

But Mr Busson said he is predicting Bluewaters would be the backup for power in WA to compensate for the clo- sure of state-owned power stations. He questioned the reliability of gas power, and pointed out that there has not been any more approvals for renewable power storage.

“I am confident Bluewaters will continue,” he said.

“The government needs the baseload, and in terms of gas as the base, well I would like to know how that would be done. There’s more at risk of something going wrong with gas than coal in the ground in Collie.”

He said conversations he has had on site are focused on the company fulfilling its contract to 2035.

“The government is actively working