Courier Mail July 24/25 JOBS GO AS COAL GAS SPLUTTERSSouth...

Courier Mail July 24/25

JOBS GO AS COAL GAS SPLUTTERS
South Burnett power station plan up in air.

More than half of Cougar Energy's employees have been
stood down in a move the embattled company has described
as a consolidation of its financial position.

Managing Director Len Walker said yesterday that the jobs
of 20 people working at the company's Kingaroy underground
coal gasification plant and in its Brisbane and Melbourne
offices had been terminated.

Various arrangements with contractors and local services
had also been discontinued.

"This was a difficult decision and a very disappointing
one," Dr Walker said.

"Its to do with the uncertainty of the Pilot burn at
Kingaroy we were planning next week".

He said staff at the Brisbane office had been completing
a feasibility study for a 200MW power station that would
eventually have attached to the pilot plant.

"We now don't know when the pilot burn will be allowed,
which leaves the power station uncertain," he said.

The UCG plant was shut by the state Gov two weeks ago
following the detection of "traces" of Benzene and Toluene
in groundwater testing bores.

An environmental evaluation of the plant and review by
scientific "experts" was ordered,which is expected to
take some time.

Cougar Energy's shares were suspended on Tuesday.
South Burnett Regional Council Mayor David Carter said
the job losses were "unfortunate" for those affected.

He said testing by the department of Environmental and
Resource Management this week had detected only "VERY
LOW" levels of the chemicals in some bores,which posed
NO HEALTH RISK TO PEOPLE OR STOCK.

Minister for Natural Resources and Mines and Energy
Stephen Robertson said it was "regrettable" Cougar had
terminated staff "before" the environmental evaluation
process was completed.

Dr Walker said the company's position was straightforward
"We have to work with the department to satisfy it we
haven't caused any health hazard and so far the TEST-
RESULTS-BOTH OURS AND THE DEPARTMENT -SHOW THAT",
he said.

"We'll do the work required by the Government and see what
the decision is at the end of that process.It's only then we can
make an informed decision about the future of the project".

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Logic is returning already Factfinder,for one week ago the Courier
Mail [especially the Editorial] and the Mayor David Carter
wanted Len's testicles barbecued with syngas..on a plate,
...now they are not so sure.

You guys remember back in 2007, when Peter Garrett said
"once we get in we'll change it all".Well just watch
these labour goons "collectively" change it all back
again after the elections. [if they win]...I mean you
couldn't invent this garbage if you tried.

There is a message in Steven Robertson's words if you
look carefully .Cougar will get the green light IMO.




HM.