Unit 6 Muja C power station
13. Hon Dr Steve Thomas to the minister representing the Minister for Energy and Decarbonisation:
I refer to the post-election delayed retirement of unit 6 at Muja C power station, placed on reserve outage mode from 1 October 2024 to 1 April 2025.
(1) During that period, how many times did the Australian Energy Market Operator request that unit 6 be made available and how many of those requests were for peak demand events?
(2) What were the dates of these peak demand events and what generational input did Muja C unit 6 provide to the South West Interconnected System during them?
(3) Has Muja C unit 6 been officially retired, with no capability to be replaced on future reserve outage mode or provide energy in the future?
(4) If yes to (3), what was the official date of retirement and the apportioned costs and timeframe of the decommissioning?
(5) Will the government guarantee to close the Collie coal-fired power station on its current timelines?
Hon Stephen Dawson replied:
I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question.
(1) It is nine. All occasions were for anticipated peak demand periods.
(2) It was 284 megawatts on 20 January 2025.
(3) Yes.
(4) On 1 April 2025. The full costs and timeframes will be determined as part of the planning of the decommissioning of the power station.
(5) The government intends to close Collie power station Muja units 7 and 8, as announced, and continues to manage the needs of the South West Interconnected System.
