BY IAN CROUCH
The federal government is pressing ahead with a gas-fired power plant at Kurri Kurri.
Energy Minister, Angus Taylor has confirmed government-owned Snowy Hydro Limited has been given $600 million to build the 660 megawatt plant on the site of the former Hydro Aluminium Smelter.
It's expected to be generating power in time for summer in 2023/24 despite an Environmental Impact Statement showing it will need to run on diesel for at least six months while a permanent gas connection to the Sydney-Newcastle gas pipeline is completed.
The project is expected to create 600 construction jobs and 1200 indirect jobs, however the plant itself will only need 10 people to operate it.
Energy Minister Angus Taylor said new gas supply would strengthen the economy and make energy more affordable.
The Kurri Kurri plant is part of a strategy to avoid a rise in power prices once the Liddell Power Station closes in 2023.
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| The power plant will be built on the site of the former Hydro Aluminium Smelter |
