db, I don't understand your position..somewhat turgid - perhaps is the tipple, either yours or mine.
To be clear, there are quite a few gas fields dotted around. The passage of the molecules in pipes will be quite different than the contracted positions. You also do not need to ship the gas around to transport energy. There has been a proposition floated around for a HVDC line in the interior from Vic to mid- North Qld, with laterals to the coast to provide a much more rugged and less lossy transmission network. very very expensive, but then so are pipelines, but at least pipelines can have some storage capacity - not much - but some. (Too much becomes a trade off between sunk capex and capacity factor)
Incremental growth will be gas, brown and black coal power phased out. Brown coal can be used quite well to make diesel.
To be crystal about my point, I think the foray into Solar Flagships will have fed information into Cabinet (Ferguson is no fool) that solar is not a cost effective solution and that heavy lifting is needed and the coming chance is gas. That, I think, is the light bulb moment for Gillard (not me). Once those two ideas sink in - no solar and the implications of transition to gas - the workers and infrastructure build becomes obvious and the need for workers.
A massive disappointment for the zealots and Greenies, but something the rest of us can afford.
Regarding the brown coal power stations, what do the owners really own? The hard assets or the coal field? Maybe the coal is the value. CTL technology to diesel. Seven years from now with oil always above $120 /bbl, it my be a sweet project to make diesel.
ESG Price at posting:
72.5¢ Sentiment: Hold Disclosure: Held
