Callide Power Station’s C4 generator stuck at Gladstone’s Port as CS Energy, GPC, and TMR seek alternate route amid unsuitable weight bearing bridges

CS Energy have revealed when the C4 Unit at Callide is forecast to be back online after revelations bridges near the Port of Gladstone are unsuitable to carry heavy loads, including the replacement generator. Full details here.

A vital replacement generator destined for the Callide Power Station is stranded at Gladstone’s Port as unsuitable bridges have left authorities “scrambling” to find an alternative route.

A 250 tonne generator set to replace the c4 Unit at Callide Power Station — following its destruction during an explosion in May 2021 that impacted thousands of Queensland customers — remains at the Port of Gladstone as the access bridges have insufficient load capacity to enable transport to Biloela.

Flynn MP, Colin Boyce confirmed to The Observer on Monday morning the generator had been unloaded at the Port but transport issues meant authorities were planning to relocate the generator further along the Port.

The new generator for Unit C4 being unloaded the Port of Gladstone recently. Picture: CS Energy

CS Energy CEO, Andrew Bills said while the route was being finalised, the plan is to barge the components from the Port of Gladstone to Fisherman’s Landing, near Yarwun (about 17km north) and then transport to Biloela via road.

“The new C4 generator arrived in late September at the Port of Gladstone and we are expecting the generator transformer to arrive at the end of October,” Mr Bills said.

“The components will be transported progressively to Callide … these are heavy pieces of equipment, so we have been working closely with relevant government agencies on the most suitable and safest road transport route,” he said.

CS Energy CEO Andrew Bills said work at the power station had focused on repairs and removing damaged plant, in readiness for when replacement components arrive at site from overseas. Picture: Dan Peled

State-owned CS Energy, who operate the Callide Power Station, and Callide C joint venture owner, InterGen Australia currently have 250 employees and contractors working on recovering the C4 Unit.

According to the Government Owned Corporation (GOC), other major components being replaced include the turbine, automatic voltage regulator for the generator, and the turbine governor.

Work at the power station has to date focused on repairs and removing damaged plant parts, awaiting the arrival of replacement components from overseas.

A 300-kilogram chunk of shrapnel was found lodged in the roof of the Callide Power Station following the major explosion of the Unit c4. Picture: CS Energy

Flynn MP Colin Boyce said access to the Port of Gladstone had been known of for many years and a major project addressing the issue has been stagnant in its planning stage since 2020.

“The generator is sitting on the wharf but we can’t move it anywhere because of the bridge and road infrastructure which is not suitable to carry 250 tonnes of generator across it.

“Everyone has known about this for a long time and now they’re all scrambling, wondering how they’re going to get it up to Biloela,” he said.

“There are four bridges in the Gladstone area that have over-size load and weight restrictions, these bridges need to be repaired and present huge logistical problems for the proposed multibillion-dollar alternative and renewable energy projects in Central Queensland.”

Flynn MP, Colin Boyce said issues with weight capacity accessing the Port have been known about for “a long time”. Picture: Supplied

He said former Flynn MP Ken O’Dowd secured $100m of federal government funding in April 2019 to address Port access issues.

A TMR spokeswoman said the Department was in discussion with CS Energy about potential routes and the requirements for moving the major components from Gladstone to Callide Power Station.

“A solution for the delivery of CS Energy’s equipment is being resolved with CS Energy, Gladstone Ports Corporation and Department of Transport and Main Roads,” she said.

CS Energy forecast the c4 Unit to return to service in April 2023.

Originally published as Callide Power Station’s C4 generator stuck at Gladstone’s Port as CS Energy, GPC, and TMR seek alternate route amid unsuitable weight bearing bridges