This will get the AGW religion goingClive Palmer's Waratah Coal met with Queensland Government over proposed power plant
Updated
The Queensland Government has met with one of Clive Palmer's companies multiple times to discuss the mining magnate's plans for a coal-fired power station in the Galilee Basin.
Key points:
- Waratah Coal has met with Government officials on two occasions
- Last year, the Government said the state did not need a new coal-fired plant
- The company has announced plans for a 1,400-megawatt ultra-supercritical plant
The Galilee Basin in central Queensland has one of the largest undeveloped coal reserves in the world.
There are plans to open it up for mining, including for Adani's controversial Carmichael coal mine.
Mr Palmer's companies hold extensive coal exploration licences in Queensland, with his company Waratah Coal proposing two coal mines and a power station in the Galilee Basin.
The ABC can reveal that Waratah Coal has recently met with three State Government departments in two separate meetings to discuss the company's plans for a coal-fired power station in the Galilee.
Waratah plans 1,400-megawatt plant
On May 8, the company announced plans for a 1,400-megawatt ultra-supercritical (high efficiency and low emissions) coal-fired power station, called the Galilee Power Plant.
This came after Mr Palmer revealed plans last September for a very similar 700-megawatt coal-fired power station in the same region.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk previously dismissed the project, saying last September: "We just do not need a coal-fired station in Queensland. We have the youngest, most efficient coal-fired fleet of power stations in the nation."
The State Government reiterated this comment on May 8 in response to Waratah Coal's announcement of its plans for the bigger power station.
However, the Department of Environment and Science (DES) has told the ABC it met with Waratah Coal about the bigger proposed power plant late last month.
"DES met with Waratah Coal representatives on 24 April to discuss their proposed 1,400-megawatt coal-fired power station," a spokesperson said.
The department said it met with Waratah Coal on the company's request and there were plans for a follow-up meeting about an application.
"Waratah Coal officials indicated during the meeting that they intend to meet with DES again within the next two months to discuss the technical requirements of an application for a coal-fired power station," a department spokesperson said.
"It's common for DES staff to meet with representatives from mining companies to discuss proposed major projects."
Three departments meet with Waratah
The Department of State Development and the Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Energy also met with Mr Palmer's company Waratah Coal about the proposed power station.
The two departments met with representatives of the company in early May for a pre-lodgement meeting.
The State Development Department and the Mines Department handle major projects and issue mining licences in Queensland.
Waratah Coal said on May 8 that the new coal-fired power station would connect to the national grid.
"The Galilee Power Plant would connect to the National Energy Market (NEM) through a new high-voltage feeder, which would connect to Powerlink's system," managing director Nui Harris said when announcing the bigger plant this month.
The company said local connections to nearby towns would also be explored.
Waratah Coal has some preliminary approvals for its mine in the south of the basin called the Galilee Coal Project.
The company said it had "reached out" to the Premier and the Queensland Government for their assistance to progress the mine.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-05-28/clive-palmers-waratah-coal-meets-with-queensland-government/11155728
