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Summer boost
Release Date: 18 December 2006
Verve Energy’s preparations for summer were boosted by two significant developments last weekend.
- Major works at WA’s biggest power station, the Muja Power Station, near Collie were completed, and
- Gas supplies are assured for the Kemerton peaking power station.
Verve Energy acting Chief Executive Ken Bowron said these were significant developments as part of the preparations for summer.
“As the result of these preparations and other works at Collie, Kwinana, Cockburn and Pinjar power stations, Verve Energy is well positioned to meet the likely requirements for electricity during summer when demand is highest,” Mr Bowron said.
“Considerable resources were committed in the past year to ensure enough electricity is available.”
At Muja Power Station, $40 million was invested to increase generating capacity and improve reliability. During a major overhaul of two 200MW units, the opportunity was taken to add 54 megawatts to their capacity.
Both of these large generating units have returned to service on time and ready for summer as planned.
At Kemerton Peaking Power Station, which is owned and operated by Transfield Services and supplies Verve Energy exclusively, sufficient gas can now be delivered so that it can operate almost exclusively on natural gas when required.
This was due to more gas being available from last weekend as the result of the capacity increase of the Dampier-Bunbury Natural Gas Pipeline (DBNGP).
Since it was completed in November 2005, Kemerton has operated using liquid fuels.
“As a peaking power station, Kemerton is used at times of high electricity demand or when other generation is not available,” Mr Bowron said.
“Kemerton was designed as a dual-fuel station to burn liquids or gas, which provides a very important operational flexibility.
“Verve Energy’s preference was always to use gas at Kemerton. Unfortunately, gas pipeline capacity could not be arranged in time when the plant was first commissioned.
“Although gas now is readily available at Kemerton, the power station still may need to use liquids occasionally. That flexibility still is very important to avoid interruptions to Verve Energy’s power supply obligations.”
Any queries from the media are directed to Verve Energy's Corporate Relations branch.
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