EPA approval of Perth gas generation expansion and Federal approval of North West Shelf extension welcomed

The Shadow Minister for Energy Dr Steve Thomas has welcomed the state EPA approval of an addition of 250 megawatts of gas fired electricity generation to Perth Energy’s existing Kwinana plant yesterday, and the Federal Environment Minister’s much anticipated final approval of the North West Shelf extension today.

“I welcome yesterday’s EPA’s approval of the 250 MW expansion of Perth Energy’s gas plant, and I hope the State Labor Government does as well” Dr Thomas said.

“I am also glad to see that today Federal Environment Minister Murray Watt has given final approval to the North West Shelf plant extension to 2070, which is vital to underpin both the domestic and export gas markets and the economic benefits they bring.

“The North West Shelf project has been a massive part of our past energy mix, and we need it to continue to provide its part of the transformational energy mix of the future.

“Together these decisions provide a degree of certainty that Western Australia’s energy system can be underpinned by a stable gas industry for both the short term and well into the future.

“This week the Government conceded that Western Australia will need additional gas generation, telling the Parliament that “additional gas generation is part of the modelled least-cost generation mix for the South West Interconnected System”.

“They have now been presented with private sector proposals which have been approved by regulators that can deliver on that statement at no cost to the public purse.

“This kind of investment will be critical to deliver an energy transition over the next decade that will keep the lights on and business operating at a price that both families and business can afford.

“It will also help deliver the outcome called for in the Liberal Party’s energy policy that was released almost a year before the March state election.

“In that policy we committed to “deliver a transition to cleaner energy that will keep the lights on and air conditioners running, and we will do so at a cost that consumers can afford”.

“The Liberal policy committed to seeing an additional 300 Megawatts of gas fired generation going into the South West grid.

“Gas is the transition fuel that will allow us to get our state to a high technology, low emissions future at a price that consumers can afford.”