❓ A WA parliamentary question addresses the government's decision to allow routine maintenance on coal-fired power plants during a gas shortage caused by the Varanus Island gas pipe rupture, questioning the impact on gas availability for other users. The Minister's response outlines the necessity of maintenance for reliability and provides estimates of gas availability as plants return to service.
AnsweredQoN 669Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
APACHE ENERGY GAS PLANT EXPLOSION — COAL-FIRED POWER STATIONS
I refer to the gas supply shortage as a result of the gas pipe rupture on Varanus Island. (1) Why did the government allow Verve Energy to carry out routine maintenance work, which took coal-fired power plants offline during a gas crisis? (2) What daily quantities of gas will be available for other users upon completion of Verve’s maintenance work on coal-fired stations, and how soon will the gas be available? (3) How many terajoules of gas a day will Verve have available for other users once the 300-megawatt Collie coal station is repaired, and when is that expected to occur? Hon KIM CHANCE
I refer to the gas supply shortage as a result of the gas pipe rupture on Varanus Island. (1) Why did the government allow Verve Energy to carry out routine maintenance work, which took coal-fired power plants offline during a gas crisis? (2) What daily quantities of gas will be available for other users upon completion of Verve’s maintenance work on coal-fired stations, and how soon will the gas be available? (3) How many terajoules of gas a day will Verve have available for other users once the 300-megawatt Collie coal station is repaired, and when is that expected to occur? Hon KIM CHANCE
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the Leader of the Opposition for providing notice of the question. (1) Routine maintenance on power plant is essential to ensure ongoing reliability of supply. Maintenance schedules are approved by system management to ensure that the timing of maintenance does not jeopardise reliability. Significant maintenance often occurs during the autumn, winter and spring off-peak periods to ensure that plant is fully available for the summer peak demand period. (2) The quantities of gas that can be made available as Verve Energy’s maintenance work is completed will vary over time and can only be estimated approximately, as quantities will be affected by generation from other generators, variations in system demand and availability of diesel fuel. It has been estimated that gas from this strategy will first become available from the end of June when Kwinana unit 1 and Cockburn power station return to service, making available between zero and 30 terajoules of gas a day. This will increase to 10 to 36 terajoules a day with the return of Muja unit 7 in mid-July; 40 to 65 terajoules a day in late July when Collie power station returns; and 45 to 70 terajoules a day in mid-August with the return of the second retired Muja unit. This will fall to 27 to 45 terajoules a day from the beginning of September as a planned major overhaul begins on Muja unit 8, partly offset by the return of the third retired Muja unit at that time. The impact of the first retired unit is included in these estimates as it will partially offset the overhaul of Kwinana unit 1 commencing in early August. (3) The impact of Collie power station alone needs to be seen in the context of the power system, as covered in the answer to (2).
(1) Why did the government allow Verve Energy to carry out routine maintenance work, which took coal-fired power plants offline during a gas crisis? (2) What daily quantities of gas will be available for other users upon completion of Verve’s maintenance work on coal-fired stations, and how soon will the gas be available? (3) How many terajoules of gas a day will Verve have available for other users once the 300-megawatt Collie coal station is repaired, and when is that expected to occur? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for providing notice of the question. (1) Routine maintenance on power plant is essential to ensure ongoing reliability of supply. Maintenance schedules are approved by system management to ensure that the timing of maintenance does not jeopardise reliability. Significant maintenance often occurs during the autumn, winter and spring off-peak periods to ensure that plant is fully available for the summer peak demand period. (2) The quantities of gas that can be made available as Verve Energy’s maintenance work is completed will vary over time and can only be estimated approximately, as quantities will be affected by generation from other generators, variations in system demand and availability of diesel fuel. It has been estimated that gas from this strategy will first become available from the end of June when Kwinana unit 1 and Cockburn power station return to service, making available between zero and 30 terajoules of gas a day. This will increase to 10 to 36 terajoules a day with the return of Muja unit 7 in mid-July; 40 to 65 terajoules a day in late July when Collie power station returns; and 45 to 70 terajoules a day in mid-August with the return of the second retired Muja unit. This will fall to 27 to 45 terajoules a day from the beginning of September as a planned major overhaul begins on Muja unit 8, partly offset by the return of the third retired Muja unit at that time. The impact of the first retired unit is included in these estimates as it will partially offset the overhaul of Kwinana unit 1 commencing in early August. (3) The impact of Collie power station alone needs to be seen in the context of the power system, as covered in the answer to (2).
(2) What daily quantities of gas will be available for other users upon completion of Verve’s maintenance work on coal-fired stations, and how soon will the gas be available? (3) How many terajoules of gas a day will Verve have available for other users once the 300-megawatt Collie coal station is repaired, and when is that expected to occur? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for providing notice of the question. (1) Routine maintenance on power plant is essential to ensure ongoing reliability of supply. Maintenance schedules are approved by system management to ensure that the timing of maintenance does not jeopardise reliability. Significant maintenance often occurs during the autumn, winter and spring off-peak periods to ensure that plant is fully available for the summer peak demand period. (2) The quantities of gas that can be made available as Verve Energy’s maintenance work is completed will vary over time and can only be estimated approximately, as quantities will be affected by generation from other generators, variations in system demand and availability of diesel fuel. It has been estimated that gas from this strategy will first become available from the end of June when Kwinana unit 1 and Cockburn power station return to service, making available between zero and 30 terajoules of gas a day. This will increase to 10 to 36 terajoules a day with the return of Muja unit 7 in mid-July; 40 to 65 terajoules a day in late July when Collie power station returns; and 45 to 70 terajoules a day in mid-August with the return of the second retired Muja unit. This will fall to 27 to 45 terajoules a day from the beginning of September as a planned major overhaul begins on Muja unit 8, partly offset by the return of the third retired Muja unit at that time. The impact of the first retired unit is included in these estimates as it will partially offset the overhaul of Kwinana unit 1 commencing in early August. (3) The impact of Collie power station alone needs to be seen in the context of the power system, as covered in the answer to (2).
(3) How many terajoules of gas a day will Verve have available for other users once the 300-megawatt Collie coal station is repaired, and when is that expected to occur? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for providing notice of the question. (1) Routine maintenance on power plant is essential to ensure ongoing reliability of supply. Maintenance schedules are approved by system management to ensure that the timing of maintenance does not jeopardise reliability. Significant maintenance often occurs during the autumn, winter and spring off-peak periods to ensure that plant is fully available for the summer peak demand period. (2) The quantities of gas that can be made available as Verve Energy’s maintenance work is completed will vary over time and can only be estimated approximately, as quantities will be affected by generation from other generators, variations in system demand and availability of diesel fuel. It has been estimated that gas from this strategy will first become available from the end of June when Kwinana unit 1 and Cockburn power station return to service, making available between zero and 30 terajoules of gas a day. This will increase to 10 to 36 terajoules a day with the return of Muja unit 7 in mid-July; 40 to 65 terajoules a day in late July when Collie power station returns; and 45 to 70 terajoules a day in mid-August with the return of the second retired Muja unit. This will fall to 27 to 45 terajoules a day from the beginning of September as a planned major overhaul begins on Muja unit 8, partly offset by the return of the third retired Muja unit at that time. The impact of the first retired unit is included in these estimates as it will partially offset the overhaul of Kwinana unit 1 commencing in early August. (3) The impact of Collie power station alone needs to be seen in the context of the power system, as covered in the answer to (2).
Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for providing notice of the question. (1) Routine maintenance on power plant is essential to ensure ongoing reliability of supply. Maintenance schedules are approved by system management to ensure that the timing of maintenance does not jeopardise reliability. Significant maintenance often occurs during the autumn, winter and spring off-peak periods to ensure that plant is fully available for the summer peak demand period. (2) The quantities of gas that can be made available as Verve Energy’s maintenance work is completed will vary over time and can only be estimated approximately, as quantities will be affected by generation from other generators, variations in system demand and availability of diesel fuel. It has been estimated that gas from this strategy will first become available from the end of June when Kwinana unit 1 and Cockburn power station return to service, making available between zero and 30 terajoules of gas a day. This will increase to 10 to 36 terajoules a day with the return of Muja unit 7 in mid-July; 40 to 65 terajoules a day in late July when Collie power station returns; and 45 to 70 terajoules a day in mid-August with the return of the second retired Muja unit. This will fall to 27 to 45 terajoules a day from the beginning of September as a planned major overhaul begins on Muja unit 8, partly offset by the return of the third retired Muja unit at that time. The impact of the first retired unit is included in these estimates as it will partially offset the overhaul of Kwinana unit 1 commencing in early August. (3) The impact of Collie power station alone needs to be seen in the context of the power system, as covered in the answer to (2).
I thank the Leader of the Opposition for providing notice of the question. (1) Routine maintenance on power plant is essential to ensure ongoing reliability of supply. Maintenance schedules are approved by system management to ensure that the timing of maintenance does not jeopardise reliability. Significant maintenance often occurs during the autumn, winter and spring off-peak periods to ensure that plant is fully available for the summer peak demand period. (2) The quantities of gas that can be made available as Verve Energy’s maintenance work is completed will vary over time and can only be estimated approximately, as quantities will be affected by generation from other generators, variations in system demand and availability of diesel fuel. It has been estimated that gas from this strategy will first become available from the end of June when Kwinana unit 1 and Cockburn power station return to service, making available between zero and 30 terajoules of gas a day. This will increase to 10 to 36 terajoules a day with the return of Muja unit 7 in mid-July; 40 to 65 terajoules a day in late July when Collie power station returns; and 45 to 70 terajoules a day in mid-August with the return of the second retired Muja unit. This will fall to 27 to 45 terajoules a day from the beginning of September as a planned major overhaul begins on Muja unit 8, partly offset by the return of the third retired Muja unit at that time. The impact of the first retired unit is included in these estimates as it will partially offset the overhaul of Kwinana unit 1 commencing in early August. (3) The impact of Collie power station alone needs to be seen in the context of the power system, as covered in the answer to (2).
(1) Routine maintenance on power plant is essential to ensure ongoing reliability of supply. Maintenance schedules are approved by system management to ensure that the timing of maintenance does not jeopardise reliability. Significant maintenance often occurs during the autumn, winter and spring off-peak periods to ensure that plant is fully available for the summer peak demand period. (2) The quantities of gas that can be made available as Verve Energy’s maintenance work is completed will vary over time and can only be estimated approximately, as quantities will be affected by generation from other generators, variations in system demand and availability of diesel fuel. It has been estimated that gas from this strategy will first become available from the end of June when Kwinana unit 1 and Cockburn power station return to service, making available between zero and 30 terajoules of gas a day. This will increase to 10 to 36 terajoules a day with the return of Muja unit 7 in mid-July; 40 to 65 terajoules a day in late July when Collie power station returns; and 45 to 70 terajoules a day in mid-August with the return of the second retired Muja unit. This will fall to 27 to 45 terajoules a day from the beginning of September as a planned major overhaul begins on Muja unit 8, partly offset by the return of the third retired Muja unit at that time. The impact of the first retired unit is included in these estimates as it will partially offset the overhaul of Kwinana unit 1 commencing in early August. (3) The impact of Collie power station alone needs to be seen in the context of the power system, as covered in the answer to (2).
(2) The quantities of gas that can be made available as Verve Energy’s maintenance work is completed will vary over time and can only be estimated approximately, as quantities will be affected by generation from other generators, variations in system demand and availability of diesel fuel. It has been estimated that gas from this strategy will first become available from the end of June when Kwinana unit 1 and Cockburn power station return to service, making available between zero and 30 terajoules of gas a day. This will increase to 10 to 36 terajoules a day with the return of Muja unit 7 in mid-July; 40 to 65 terajoules a day in late July when Collie power station returns; and 45 to 70 terajoules a day in mid-August with the return of the second retired Muja unit. This will fall to 27 to 45 terajoules a day from the beginning of September as a planned major overhaul begins on Muja unit 8, partly offset by the return of the third retired Muja unit at that time. The impact of the first retired unit is included in these estimates as it will partially offset the overhaul of Kwinana unit 1 commencing in early August. (3) The impact of Collie power station alone needs to be seen in the context of the power system, as covered in the answer to (2).
(3) The impact of Collie power station alone needs to be seen in the context of the power system, as covered in the answer to (2).
(1) Why did the government allow Verve Energy to carry out routine maintenance work, which took coal-fired power plants offline during a gas crisis? (2) What daily quantities of gas will be available for other users upon completion of Verve’s maintenance work on coal-fired stations, and how soon will the gas be available? (3) How many terajoules of gas a day will Verve have available for other users once the 300-megawatt Collie coal station is repaired, and when is that expected to occur? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for providing notice of the question. (1) Routine maintenance on power plant is essential to ensure ongoing reliability of supply. Maintenance schedules are approved by system management to ensure that the timing of maintenance does not jeopardise reliability. Significant maintenance often occurs during the autumn, winter and spring off-peak periods to ensure that plant is fully available for the summer peak demand period. (2) The quantities of gas that can be made available as Verve Energy’s maintenance work is completed will vary over time and can only be estimated approximately, as quantities will be affected by generation from other generators, variations in system demand and availability of diesel fuel. It has been estimated that gas from this strategy will first become available from the end of June when Kwinana unit 1 and Cockburn power station return to service, making available between zero and 30 terajoules of gas a day. This will increase to 10 to 36 terajoules a day with the return of Muja unit 7 in mid-July; 40 to 65 terajoules a day in late July when Collie power station returns; and 45 to 70 terajoules a day in mid-August with the return of the second retired Muja unit. This will fall to 27 to 45 terajoules a day from the beginning of September as a planned major overhaul begins on Muja unit 8, partly offset by the return of the third retired Muja unit at that time. The impact of the first retired unit is included in these estimates as it will partially offset the overhaul of Kwinana unit 1 commencing in early August. (3) The impact of Collie power station alone needs to be seen in the context of the power system, as covered in the answer to (2).
(2) What daily quantities of gas will be available for other users upon completion of Verve’s maintenance work on coal-fired stations, and how soon will the gas be available? (3) How many terajoules of gas a day will Verve have available for other users once the 300-megawatt Collie coal station is repaired, and when is that expected to occur? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for providing notice of the question. (1) Routine maintenance on power plant is essential to ensure ongoing reliability of supply. Maintenance schedules are approved by system management to ensure that the timing of maintenance does not jeopardise reliability. Significant maintenance often occurs during the autumn, winter and spring off-peak periods to ensure that plant is fully available for the summer peak demand period. (2) The quantities of gas that can be made available as Verve Energy’s maintenance work is completed will vary over time and can only be estimated approximately, as quantities will be affected by generation from other generators, variations in system demand and availability of diesel fuel. It has been estimated that gas from this strategy will first become available from the end of June when Kwinana unit 1 and Cockburn power station return to service, making available between zero and 30 terajoules of gas a day. This will increase to 10 to 36 terajoules a day with the return of Muja unit 7 in mid-July; 40 to 65 terajoules a day in late July when Collie power station returns; and 45 to 70 terajoules a day in mid-August with the return of the second retired Muja unit. This will fall to 27 to 45 terajoules a day from the beginning of September as a planned major overhaul begins on Muja unit 8, partly offset by the return of the third retired Muja unit at that time. The impact of the first retired unit is included in these estimates as it will partially offset the overhaul of Kwinana unit 1 commencing in early August. (3) The impact of Collie power station alone needs to be seen in the context of the power system, as covered in the answer to (2).
(3) How many terajoules of gas a day will Verve have available for other users once the 300-megawatt Collie coal station is repaired, and when is that expected to occur? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for providing notice of the question. (1) Routine maintenance on power plant is essential to ensure ongoing reliability of supply. Maintenance schedules are approved by system management to ensure that the timing of maintenance does not jeopardise reliability. Significant maintenance often occurs during the autumn, winter and spring off-peak periods to ensure that plant is fully available for the summer peak demand period. (2) The quantities of gas that can be made available as Verve Energy’s maintenance work is completed will vary over time and can only be estimated approximately, as quantities will be affected by generation from other generators, variations in system demand and availability of diesel fuel. It has been estimated that gas from this strategy will first become available from the end of June when Kwinana unit 1 and Cockburn power station return to service, making available between zero and 30 terajoules of gas a day. This will increase to 10 to 36 terajoules a day with the return of Muja unit 7 in mid-July; 40 to 65 terajoules a day in late July when Collie power station returns; and 45 to 70 terajoules a day in mid-August with the return of the second retired Muja unit. This will fall to 27 to 45 terajoules a day from the beginning of September as a planned major overhaul begins on Muja unit 8, partly offset by the return of the third retired Muja unit at that time. The impact of the first retired unit is included in these estimates as it will partially offset the overhaul of Kwinana unit 1 commencing in early August. (3) The impact of Collie power station alone needs to be seen in the context of the power system, as covered in the answer to (2).
Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for providing notice of the question. (1) Routine maintenance on power plant is essential to ensure ongoing reliability of supply. Maintenance schedules are approved by system management to ensure that the timing of maintenance does not jeopardise reliability. Significant maintenance often occurs during the autumn, winter and spring off-peak periods to ensure that plant is fully available for the summer peak demand period. (2) The quantities of gas that can be made available as Verve Energy’s maintenance work is completed will vary over time and can only be estimated approximately, as quantities will be affected by generation from other generators, variations in system demand and availability of diesel fuel. It has been estimated that gas from this strategy will first become available from the end of June when Kwinana unit 1 and Cockburn power station return to service, making available between zero and 30 terajoules of gas a day. This will increase to 10 to 36 terajoules a day with the return of Muja unit 7 in mid-July; 40 to 65 terajoules a day in late July when Collie power station returns; and 45 to 70 terajoules a day in mid-August with the return of the second retired Muja unit. This will fall to 27 to 45 terajoules a day from the beginning of September as a planned major overhaul begins on Muja unit 8, partly offset by the return of the third retired Muja unit at that time. The impact of the first retired unit is included in these estimates as it will partially offset the overhaul of Kwinana unit 1 commencing in early August. (3) The impact of Collie power station alone needs to be seen in the context of the power system, as covered in the answer to (2).
I thank the Leader of the Opposition for providing notice of the question. (1) Routine maintenance on power plant is essential to ensure ongoing reliability of supply. Maintenance schedules are approved by system management to ensure that the timing of maintenance does not jeopardise reliability. Significant maintenance often occurs during the autumn, winter and spring off-peak periods to ensure that plant is fully available for the summer peak demand period. (2) The quantities of gas that can be made available as Verve Energy’s maintenance work is completed will vary over time and can only be estimated approximately, as quantities will be affected by generation from other generators, variations in system demand and availability of diesel fuel. It has been estimated that gas from this strategy will first become available from the end of June when Kwinana unit 1 and Cockburn power station return to service, making available between zero and 30 terajoules of gas a day. This will increase to 10 to 36 terajoules a day with the return of Muja unit 7 in mid-July; 40 to 65 terajoules a day in late July when Collie power station returns; and 45 to 70 terajoules a day in mid-August with the return of the second retired Muja unit. This will fall to 27 to 45 terajoules a day from the beginning of September as a planned major overhaul begins on Muja unit 8, partly offset by the return of the third retired Muja unit at that time. The impact of the first retired unit is included in these estimates as it will partially offset the overhaul of Kwinana unit 1 commencing in early August. (3) The impact of Collie power station alone needs to be seen in the context of the power system, as covered in the answer to (2).
(1) Routine maintenance on power plant is essential to ensure ongoing reliability of supply. Maintenance schedules are approved by system management to ensure that the timing of maintenance does not jeopardise reliability. Significant maintenance often occurs during the autumn, winter and spring off-peak periods to ensure that plant is fully available for the summer peak demand period. (2) The quantities of gas that can be made available as Verve Energy’s maintenance work is completed will vary over time and can only be estimated approximately, as quantities will be affected by generation from other generators, variations in system demand and availability of diesel fuel. It has been estimated that gas from this strategy will first become available from the end of June when Kwinana unit 1 and Cockburn power station return to service, making available between zero and 30 terajoules of gas a day. This will increase to 10 to 36 terajoules a day with the return of Muja unit 7 in mid-July; 40 to 65 terajoules a day in late July when Collie power station returns; and 45 to 70 terajoules a day in mid-August with the return of the second retired Muja unit. This will fall to 27 to 45 terajoules a day from the beginning of September as a planned major overhaul begins on Muja unit 8, partly offset by the return of the third retired Muja unit at that time. The impact of the first retired unit is included in these estimates as it will partially offset the overhaul of Kwinana unit 1 commencing in early August. (3) The impact of Collie power station alone needs to be seen in the context of the power system, as covered in the answer to (2).
(2) The quantities of gas that can be made available as Verve Energy’s maintenance work is completed will vary over time and can only be estimated approximately, as quantities will be affected by generation from other generators, variations in system demand and availability of diesel fuel. It has been estimated that gas from this strategy will first become available from the end of June when Kwinana unit 1 and Cockburn power station return to service, making available between zero and 30 terajoules of gas a day. This will increase to 10 to 36 terajoules a day with the return of Muja unit 7 in mid-July; 40 to 65 terajoules a day in late July when Collie power station returns; and 45 to 70 terajoules a day in mid-August with the return of the second retired Muja unit. This will fall to 27 to 45 terajoules a day from the beginning of September as a planned major overhaul begins on Muja unit 8, partly offset by the return of the third retired Muja unit at that time. The impact of the first retired unit is included in these estimates as it will partially offset the overhaul of Kwinana unit 1 commencing in early August. (3) The impact of Collie power station alone needs to be seen in the context of the power system, as covered in the answer to (2).
(3) The impact of Collie power station alone needs to be seen in the context of the power system, as covered in the answer to (2).
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