From:
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/na...a/news-story/4b836c02d9166c55f1140b67e013d893
By Paul Starick, Chief Reporter, The Advertiser, January 2, 2017 7:13am
“.......................State Energy Minister Tom Koutsantonis said the Government had not been approached but, if the proposal was genuine, it would encourage a development application because more gas-fired generation would be good for the state.
Some industry insiders scoffed at the proposal, questioning its viability “when Pelican Point cannot operate profitably at full capacity amid tight gas supplies.
“The gas-fired, 479MW Pelican Point station, near Outer Harbor, was mothballed in mid-2014. However, 240MW was brought online, underpinned by a supply deal with BHP, after some of the state’s biggest employers came close to costly shutdowns in July because of skyrocketing electricity prices.
“Pelican Point is not operating at full capacity because of cost pressures from cheaper solar and wind generators and gas supply issues.
“Mr Koutsantonis said government representatives had met with Powerchina previously but had not discussed this project.
“Additional gas-fired generation would be good for SA, which is why the State Government is partnering with gas companies through $24 million in grants to extract more gas and offer it to local generators first,” he said.
“We are also using the procurement of 75 per cent of the State Government electricity load to incentivise the entry of new generation into the SA market.”
“Powerchina’s Australian partner is fronted by Adelaide entrepreneur Malcolm Peters, a family friend and business associate of Chinese mining mogul Sally Zou, whose daughter Gloria — a Chinese film and TV star — has been attending school in Adelaide.........”
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