Mirani MP Glen Kelly vows to keep coal-fired power stations open

Coal-fired power stations like Stanwell will stay operating for “as long as needed” vowed MP Glen Kelly after reports the state treasurer had set early dates to shut them.

Mirani MP Glen Kelly at the Stanwell Power Station.

Central Queensland coal-fired power stations, including Stanwell, will stay open and operating for “as long as needed” as the backbone of Queensland’s electricity system, says Mirani MP Glen Kelly.

Mr Kelly was responding to reports that firm shut down dates were going to be set for the state’s seven coal-fired power generators.

He said that may have been part of the previous Labor Government’s plans but was not being considered by the LNP Government which recognised the critical need of coal in sustaining a reliable power system.

“I am committed to ensuring that our coal-fired power stations remain open and operating for as long as needed in Queensland’s electricity system,” he said.

“We need a strong diversified mix in our electricity grid, with reliable baseload and peaking power, including coal.

“Stanwell Power Station in my electorate provides 240 jobs for people in the Rockhampton region, as well as reliable power for the entire state.”

The Stanwell Power Station just outside Rockhampton. Pics Adam Head

He said coal-power provided 8GW of generation capacity to the state and that critical area of guaranteed supply had to be protected.

“The Crisafulli government, as part of our election commitments, has funded a $1.6 billion electricity maintenance guarantee to ensure that our coal-fired power stations are properly maintained and able to continue providing cheap and reliable power to Queenslanders for longer,” he said.

“Without coal, Central Queensland stops. Not only is it the mining jobs that are created for our region, it’s the jobs in the power stations, the jobs from manufacturing that are only viable when they have a consistent reliable supply of power which coal provides.”

He said Queensland had watched other state governments rush the rollout of renewables and prematurely take coal-fired power stations offline, triggering massive power price increases.

“Our energy grid is moving to a mix of technologies, and while I’m not opposed to new technologies in the energy system, we can’t rush away from coal when so many of Queensland’s jobs, communities and energy security depend on it,” he said.

“I will continue to stand by our coal-fired power stations, especially when I have the Rolls Royce of Australian power generation in my own backyard with Stanwell.”

Treasurer and Energy Minister David Janetzki backed Mr Kelly’s views.

Queensland treasurer David Janetzki at the site of a new battery storage system at Torrington in Toowoomba.

“Coal will continue to be a significant part of the generation mix for decades to come and Treasury is continuing to work with GOC generators ahead of the Energy Roadmap launch (in October),” he said.

“The Crisafulli government has been clear on multiple occasions that coal-fired generators will remain open as long as it is economically sensible and systematically necessary, not an arbitrary deadline as Labor proposed.

“Despite more Labor Party scare campaigns, our position has not changed.”

According to the Stanwell website, Queensland’s oldest coal-fired power station, the Gladstone Power Station, commissioned in 1976, was scheduled to close in 2035, while the Tarong power stations were expected to close by 2037, and the Stanwell Power Station to close by 2046.