‘Fine tuning’: Extending Qld coal power life not ruled out

Energy Minister Chris Bowen has not ruled out that some of Queensland’s fleet of coal power station may delay their closure dates if needed.

No new coal-fired power stations will be opened, but Energy Minister Chris Bowen has not ruled out that some of Queensland’s fleet of coal power station may delay their closure dates if needed to shore up energy reliability.

Opposition leader Peter Dutton on Monday doubled down on his push for Australia to consider nuclear power, which is currently banned in the country, saying it could be used to replace coal to ensure a reliable power supply.

Mr Bowen rejected the idea, saying departmental advice estimated it would cost $376 billion to replace coal with nuclear power, while he also rejected building new coal-fired power stations.

Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

But he said there would be room for “fine tuning” closure dates of Queensland’s coal-fired power stations, when asked if they could be required to stay open for longer to keep power supply reliable during the transition to renewables.

He pointed to the NSW Government extending to life of Eraring power station earlier this month.

“Queensland has the youngest coal-fired power fleet in the country. I think everybody would accept that they will be in the grid for the longest because they’re the youngest,” Mr Bowen said.

“The coal-fired power closure schedules have been by and large announced.

“But of course governments will from time to time look at those … and make sure that any fine tuning or calibration that is necessary will be done.”

Millmerran Power Station. Picture: Intergen

The last coal-fired power station to close in Australia is scheduled to be Queensland’s Millmerran, due to wind up in 2051.

Just one Queensland coal-fired power station is currently scheduled to close before 2030 – Callide B in 2028.

Gladstone and Tarong are forecast to shut down in 2035-36 and Stanwell, Kogan Creek and Yabulu are not due to close until the 2040s.

Meanwhile, Mr Dutton said the Opposition was prepared for an intellectual debate on nuclear power.

“Until the (renewable/battery) technology improves, you have to use existing technologies. The most reliable … firming power available is nuclear,” he said.