❓ Mr. Johnston questions the Minister for Energy regarding the collapse of a cooling tower at Muja CD, suggesting reduced maintenance spending contributed to the incident. The Minister denies any government-directed cuts to Synergy's maintenance budget.
AnsweredQoN 886Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
MUJA CD — MAINTENANCE
886. Mr W.J. JOHNSTON to the Minister for
Energy:
I refer to the collapse of the
cooling tower at Muja D.
(1) Has the
reduction in maintenance spending that this government has directed for Synergy
contributed to this collapse?
(2) Has this
reduction in maintenance spending directed by this government contributed to
the failure to identify corrosion in a pipe in the tower?
(3) Has the
reduction in funding for maintenance directed by this government led to the
failure to detect leaking in the tower that led to weight coming onto the wall,
which led to its collapse?
886. Mr W.J. JOHNSTON to the Minister for
Energy:
I refer to the collapse of the
cooling tower at Muja D.
(1) Has the
reduction in maintenance spending that this government has directed for Synergy
contributed to this collapse?
(2) Has this
reduction in maintenance spending directed by this government contributed to
the failure to identify corrosion in a pipe in the tower?
(3) Has the
reduction in funding for maintenance directed by this government led to the
failure to detect leaking in the tower that led to weight coming onto the wall,
which led to its collapse?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(3) I
thank the member for the question. There are two aspects of the Muja plant.
There is Muja AB, which is the old plant that we refurbished, and there is Muja
CD, which is the largest coal-fired generating facility in the state. On Sunday
there was a large leak in the cooling tower of the seventh generator of Muja
CD, which led to the collapse of the wall. Synergy is investigating the cause
of that. I will not jump to conclusions about what the cause was, but the
member made a couple of accusations about a reduction in maintenance; there has
not been any.
Several members
interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Dr
M.D. NAHAN : There has been no reduction in the maintenance. The maintenance
is determined by Synergy on an ongoing basis; maintenance is up to Synergy and
it undertakes maintenance when it decides to do so. Appropriately, when the
plant needs maintenance, Synergy decides to do so. The government has at no
point, as was implied by the member, dictated a cut in maintenance in the
facilities of Synergy, so that accusation is false.
We do not know what the cause of the
collapse was. An investigation is underway and when it is complete, I am sure
Synergy will make a report about what the cause was.
thank the member for the question. There are two aspects of the Muja plant.
There is Muja AB, which is the old plant that we refurbished, and there is Muja
CD, which is the largest coal-fired generating facility in the state. On Sunday
there was a large leak in the cooling tower of the seventh generator of Muja
CD, which led to the collapse of the wall. Synergy is investigating the cause
of that. I will not jump to conclusions about what the cause was, but the
member made a couple of accusations about a reduction in maintenance; there has
not been any.
Several members
interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Dr
M.D. NAHAN : There has been no reduction in the maintenance. The maintenance
is determined by Synergy on an ongoing basis; maintenance is up to Synergy and
it undertakes maintenance when it decides to do so. Appropriately, when the
plant needs maintenance, Synergy decides to do so. The government has at no
point, as was implied by the member, dictated a cut in maintenance in the
facilities of Synergy, so that accusation is false.
We do not know what the cause of the
collapse was. An investigation is underway and when it is complete, I am sure
Synergy will make a report about what the cause was.
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