Minister Canavan congratulated for common sense call on new technology coal power plants

“

The NSW Minerals Council has welcomed federal Resources Minister Matt Canavan’s support for new technology coal-fired power stations as an option for meeting Australia’s future energy needs, as outlined in The Australian newspaper today. (“Next-generation coal can fill gap: Canavan: The Australian 6 January 2017)

‘Minister Canavan is to be congratulated for his common sense call to ensure new technology low emissions coal-fired power stations are fully investigated as an option for meeting our future energy needs,’ NSW Minerals Council CEO Stephen Galilee said today.

‘Coal currently provides around 85 per cent of NSW electricity, and while renewables’ share of energy supply is growing, it is still relatively small and requires backup baseload power to ensure reliability of supply.’

‘NSW is facing a looming gas shortage that is likely to increase energy prices, so we need to consider other options for supply of reliable baseload energy as part of the future energy mix’

‘Upgrading existing coal-fired power plants with new low emissions technology would ensure supply of reliable baseload power to NSW homes and businesses for decades, using existing energy infrastructure, distribution networks, and fuel sourced from existing NSW mines close to existing power stations.’

‘NSW is blessed with an abundant supply of high quality thermal coal that can be used by these new technology power plants to generate electricity with up to 40 per cent lower emissions than some existing power stations.’

‘Other countries like Japan, India, Taiwan and China are deploying this technology to meet their energy needs, and using high quality NSW coal to do so. To protect our economy and jobs we should be doing the same here.’  

Contact: Harry Hughes