Yesterday
Nyrstar warns of ‘urgent, serious’ risk of smelter closure
The metal processor says it is weeks away from closing plants in South Australia and Tasmania if it does not secure support from federal and state governments.
NSW’s $1b green bank to pick first investment this year
Cameron O’Reilly, chairman of NSW Energy Security Corporation, wants to get more clean power into the grid faster, smoothing the transition away from coal.
June
Basslink U-turn puts faith in long-term power price benefits
The energy regulator was swayed by arguments from Hydro Tasmania and others that regulating the power cable between Victoria and Tasmania was the best option.
Iran threat a wake-up call for Australia’s fuel reserves
The Iran conflict is a timely reminder Australia needs to build onshore fuel reserves with current supplies well short of the target 90 days.
Contrarian Barrenjoey says Santos’ $36b sale won’t hit FIRB barrier
The investment bank’s analysts told clients there was too much scepticism about the likelihood an Abu Dhabi-led consortium would be able to pull off the deal.
AWU says Chalmers must put big conditions on $36b Santos takeover
The influential union wants the ASX-listed oil and gas producer’s Abu Dhabi suitor to sell more gas in Australia in exchange for foreign investment approval.
French energy giant backs multibillion-dollar NSW pumped hydro project
Government-owned EDF, better known for its large nuclear power fleet, is buying into an EnergyAustralia plant and wants to acquire more.
Bidder XRG says it wants ‘100pc’ of Santos amid break-up speculation
In an attempt to pre-empt Canberra’s concerns, the Middle Eastern-led bid group says it plans to invest in Santos’ domestic energy production.
Victoria uses 13pc of entire year’s gas budget in just three days
Breakdowns at a major coal power plant and weak renewable energy generation have left the state running down its stores faster than expected in a cold winter.
Billions of dollars and plenty of jobs at stake in Labor’s gas plans
Long-suffering east coast gas users justifiably want access to more affordable supplies, but putting domestic needs ahead of exports would come at a big cost.
Outage at power station broadens Victoria’s energy crisis
The disruption at EnergyAustralia’s Yallourn coal power station comes as Victoria is already facing the risk of winter gas shortfalls on peak-demand days.
Albanese praises Western Australia’s gas reservation policy
The Albanese government will conduct a review energy policy including whether a portion of gas produced on the east coast should be reserved to avoid energy shortages.
May
East coast gas reserve in Albanese government’s sights
Canberra is likely to consider establishing an eastern cache as part of a sweeping review of the country’s energy system.
Consumers face higher prices in Bass Strait electricity stand-off
A dispute over the future of the only electricity cable linking Victoria and Tasmania could spill over into consumer energy bills.
April
The five seconds that plunged Spain into darkness
A key point of concern is the role that renewable power played in the outage with Spain a leader in rolling out wind and solar generation.
Mystery blackout forces Spain, Portugal to cope with life off the grid
An unprecedented and massive blackout hit both nations overnight, cutting off everything from metro trains to ATMs for 50 million people.
Victoria walks back timetable for key Gippsland wind infrastructure
In a delayed update, the state removed references to when a marine supply base was expected to be operational and dropped details of offtake contract auctions.
No extra gas for domestic market under Dutton plan: industry
The sector has changed its criticism of the Coalition’s energy policy from complaining it would create a glut, to arguing it would create a shortfall.
Japan warns on Dutton’s gas reservation policy
A Tokyo think tank says limiting sales into the regional spot market could “handicap” Australian producers and trim Japanese trading in South-East Asia.
‘Doesn’t stack up’: Top investors go cold on nuclear
New data shows Australia’s top asset managers have little interest in investing in atomic energy generation.