MSAgreed (apart from the pipe being underground bit) that...

MS

Agreed (apart from the pipe being underground bit) that whatever infrastructure scenario is planned for LV to port that it will be very costly and take a long time to plan, design and develop - years and years and years no doubt.

I assume this is why Exergen have struck their deal with their JV partner in BM - coal quality not great, but rail to port in place will make a massive tick in the infrastructure box no doubt, which has always be the plan - BCE export project from BM, not feed for LV power stations.

With a $23 per tonne CT now in place (the highest CT in the world) - selling BCE to offshore Co's would create greater wealth for Vic Govt than creating BCE for power stations I would assume.

Additionally, if the cost of developing/buying BCE (after capex, etc.) in LV as a feed for power stations is not cheaper than paying the $23 per tonne of burning raw BC including the reduction in emissions - than that will pose an issue to as there won't be a market for BCE in LV nor an export market for LV BCE for a long time because of poor infrastructure as we agree.

I am assuming no Fed Govt grants, etc. in the above either PB

I mean AGL's LY have 7 billion tonnes of BC. They can just continue to burn it and not BCE it and pay the CT (which will be passed onto to consumers regardless) unless incentivised to do otherwise. Getting part of a $200 mill "innovation" grant seems chicken feed compared to the cost of developing a Coldry plant and then "buying" BCE when they have all their own BC for free - well, what AGL paid for it anyway.

Yeah, I know, Fed Govt is talking it all up re incentives and closing down "dirty" BC power plants - but if any of us here really think that the CT is anything more than just another Labor socialist Govt tax grab - we should just have a look at all the other "green" initiatives that Labor are backing.

Don't bight the hand that feeds you and all that.

Didn't I hear somewhere that Fed Govt gave a $50 mill handout to a BC briquetting Co a few days before the CT was introduced??? Doesn't seem the logical action of a concerned "green" Govt does it really???

MS - you are right - "the actual plant seems to be a small problem in comparison".

Cheers K