LNP commits to keep coal fired power stations open ‘indefinitely’

David Crisafulli will keep Queensland’s coal fired power stations open ‘indefinitely’ if he is elected to ensure energy remains ‘reliable and affordable’ during the transition to renewables.

Leader of the Opposition David Crisafulli during a media conference in Mackay. Picture: Liam Kidston.

David Crisafulli will keep Queensland’s coal fired power stations open “indefinitely” if he is elected to ensure energy remains “reliable and affordable” during the transition to renewables.

The Liberal National Party leader has committed to net zero emissions by 2050, but is yet to release a detailed plan on how that would be achieved.

Speaking in Mackay on Thursday, Mr Crisafulli said Queensland had the youngest fleet of coal-fired power plants in the country and he would keep them maintained and operational.

“We will continue to ensure that they operate whilst they are needed to form part of the mix of affordable, reliable and sustainable electricity,” he said.

“There is no way the vast majority of thinking Queenslanders would want us to shut off baseload power before the capacity of the next generation of energy has been developed.”

Asked if that meant they would run indefinitely, Mr Crisafulli said: “Well, I guess the answer to that is yes”.

“We need the baseload power that comes from those coal-fired power generators, we need that there,“ he said.

“We also need to have a vision to make sure that we are part of a transition to renewable energy, but it’s got to be done in a way that makes sure that Queenslanders can continue to afford their bills whilst we work towards the future.”

Mr Crisafulli’s LNP voted to support Labor’s legislated plan to cut 75 per cent of emissions by 2035, but has not set a renewable energy target.

Labor is relying on the proposed Pioneer-Burdekin Pumped Hydro project, near Mackay, to enable it to shut down the state’s five coal-fired power stations and reach its target of 80 per cent renewable energy by 2035.

The project is still being subjected to financial, engineering and environmental investi­gations and is yet to get government approvals or substantive funding.

Initial estimates put the project at $12bn but that figure is expected to balloon after more detailed financial modelling is complete.

Mr Crisafulli has backed Labor’s other Borumba pumped-hydro station, near Gympie, but has rubbished Pioneer-Burdekin as a “hoax”.

He has pledged to fund Borumba and partner with the private sector to build smaller pumped-hydro projects.

On Thursday he refused to say how many pumped hydro plans would be built if the LNP won government, when or where they would be built and the estimated cost to taxpayers.