❓ A WA MP questions the Energy Minister about potential power blackouts due to gas pipeline maintenance and the use of Mondarra gas storage. The Minister deflects blame to inherited contracts and highlights efforts to mitigate the issue.
AnsweredQoN 962Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the past two weeks when Western Power customers were told to conserve power due to the high risk of blackouts because of maintenance on the Dampier to Bunbury natural gas pipeline. (1) Why were Western Power customers not spared the anxiety of power blackout warnings by an alternative gas supply being found? (2) Why has the Minister for Energy not implemented an emergency supply system, such as pumping additional gas into the Mondarra gas storage reservoir, which would have allowed Western Power to cope with the upgrade on the pipeline? (3) Has the minister been briefed at any stage during his term as energy minister on the potential of the Mondarra gas storage reservoir to provide an alternative gas supply for emergency situations? (4) If the minister has been briefed, why did he not provide this alternative to the community? Mr E.S. RIPPER
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(4) The advice to me from Western Power was that 80 per cent of its gas supplies would be unavailable due to required maintenance on the Dampier to Bunbury natural gas pipeline. The reason for that unavailability was that Western Power’s gas contracts, which were inherited from the time when Western Power was split from AlintaGas, provide for only about a quarter of the gas required to be transported on a firm basis. Three-quarters of the gas required to meet electricity demand comes through transport contracts that are able to be interrupted. In other words, if there is a restriction on gas transport capacity, Western Power, by the nature of its contracts, suffers a reduction in the supply of gas, while other customers such as AlintaGas, which is now privatised, continue to receive all the gas they need on firm contracts. That is the inheritance that the present management has from the time when Western Power was split from AlintaGas. All sorts of management arrangements were made to ensure that Western Australians got all the electricity they demanded. In fact, arrangements were made for additional electricity generation from the private power producer in Kalgoorlie. Arrangements were made for fuel swaps. There was an arrangement with Alcoa World Alumina Australia that resulted in Western Power having more gas made available to it. There was an arrangement with the operators of the Parmelia pipeline for more gas to come down the pipeline. I understand, although I do not have the details with me, that there were arrangements with regard to the Mondarra gas storage facility. Nevertheless, despite all the arrangements that were made, we had to rely mostly on coal-fired power station capacity to meet the electricity demand of Western Australians. I understand that arrangements were made for the use of the Mondarra gas storage facility. I do not have with me right now the details of those arrangements. However, if the Leader of the National Party would like to be briefed on the arrangements that were made during that period, I would be happy to arrange that. I conclude by saying that Western Power faced a difficult circumstance through no fault of its own. Western Power’s management is to be congratulated for the way in which it handled the issue and supported the community with this essential service during a period of increased risk.
(1) Why were Western Power customers not spared the anxiety of power blackout warnings by an alternative gas supply being found? (2) Why has the Minister for Energy not implemented an emergency supply system, such as pumping additional gas into the Mondarra gas storage reservoir, which would have allowed Western Power to cope with the upgrade on the pipeline? (3) Has the minister been briefed at any stage during his term as energy minister on the potential of the Mondarra gas storage reservoir to provide an alternative gas supply for emergency situations? (4) If the minister has been briefed, why did he not provide this alternative to the community? Mr E.S. RIPPER replied: (1)-(4) The advice to me from Western Power was that 80 per cent of its gas supplies would be unavailable due to required maintenance on the Dampier to Bunbury natural gas pipeline. The reason for that unavailability was that Western Power’s gas contracts, which were inherited from the time when Western Power was split from AlintaGas, provide for only about a quarter of the gas required to be transported on a firm basis. Three-quarters of the gas required to meet electricity demand comes through transport contracts that are able to be interrupted. In other words, if there is a restriction on gas transport capacity, Western Power, by the nature of its contracts, suffers a reduction in the supply of gas, while other customers such as AlintaGas, which is now privatised, continue to receive all the gas they need on firm contracts. That is the inheritance that the present management has from the time when Western Power was split from AlintaGas. All sorts of management arrangements were made to ensure that Western Australians got all the electricity they demanded. In fact, arrangements were made for additional electricity generation from the private power producer in Kalgoorlie. Arrangements were made for fuel swaps. There was an arrangement with Alcoa World Alumina Australia that resulted in Western Power having more gas made available to it. There was an arrangement with the operators of the Parmelia pipeline for more gas to come down the pipeline. I understand, although I do not have the details with me, that there were arrangements with regard to the Mondarra gas storage facility. Nevertheless, despite all the arrangements that were made, we had to rely mostly on coal-fired power station capacity to meet the electricity demand of Western Australians. I understand that arrangements were made for the use of the Mondarra gas storage facility. I do not have with me right now the details of those arrangements. However, if the Leader of the National Party would like to be briefed on the arrangements that were made during that period, I would be happy to arrange that. I conclude by saying that Western Power faced a difficult circumstance through no fault of its own. Western Power’s management is to be congratulated for the way in which it handled the issue and supported the community with this essential service during a period of increased risk.
(2) Why has the Minister for Energy not implemented an emergency supply system, such as pumping additional gas into the Mondarra gas storage reservoir, which would have allowed Western Power to cope with the upgrade on the pipeline? (3) Has the minister been briefed at any stage during his term as energy minister on the potential of the Mondarra gas storage reservoir to provide an alternative gas supply for emergency situations? (4) If the minister has been briefed, why did he not provide this alternative to the community? Mr E.S. RIPPER replied: (1)-(4) The advice to me from Western Power was that 80 per cent of its gas supplies would be unavailable due to required maintenance on the Dampier to Bunbury natural gas pipeline. The reason for that unavailability was that Western Power’s gas contracts, which were inherited from the time when Western Power was split from AlintaGas, provide for only about a quarter of the gas required to be transported on a firm basis. Three-quarters of the gas required to meet electricity demand comes through transport contracts that are able to be interrupted. In other words, if there is a restriction on gas transport capacity, Western Power, by the nature of its contracts, suffers a reduction in the supply of gas, while other customers such as AlintaGas, which is now privatised, continue to receive all the gas they need on firm contracts. That is the inheritance that the present management has from the time when Western Power was split from AlintaGas. All sorts of management arrangements were made to ensure that Western Australians got all the electricity they demanded. In fact, arrangements were made for additional electricity generation from the private power producer in Kalgoorlie. Arrangements were made for fuel swaps. There was an arrangement with Alcoa World Alumina Australia that resulted in Western Power having more gas made available to it. There was an arrangement with the operators of the Parmelia pipeline for more gas to come down the pipeline. I understand, although I do not have the details with me, that there were arrangements with regard to the Mondarra gas storage facility. Nevertheless, despite all the arrangements that were made, we had to rely mostly on coal-fired power station capacity to meet the electricity demand of Western Australians. I understand that arrangements were made for the use of the Mondarra gas storage facility. I do not have with me right now the details of those arrangements. However, if the Leader of the National Party would like to be briefed on the arrangements that were made during that period, I would be happy to arrange that. I conclude by saying that Western Power faced a difficult circumstance through no fault of its own. Western Power’s management is to be congratulated for the way in which it handled the issue and supported the community with this essential service during a period of increased risk.
(3) Has the minister been briefed at any stage during his term as energy minister on the potential of the Mondarra gas storage reservoir to provide an alternative gas supply for emergency situations? (4) If the minister has been briefed, why did he not provide this alternative to the community? Mr E.S. RIPPER replied: (1)-(4) The advice to me from Western Power was that 80 per cent of its gas supplies would be unavailable due to required maintenance on the Dampier to Bunbury natural gas pipeline. The reason for that unavailability was that Western Power’s gas contracts, which were inherited from the time when Western Power was split from AlintaGas, provide for only about a quarter of the gas required to be transported on a firm basis. Three-quarters of the gas required to meet electricity demand comes through transport contracts that are able to be interrupted. In other words, if there is a restriction on gas transport capacity, Western Power, by the nature of its contracts, suffers a reduction in the supply of gas, while other customers such as AlintaGas, which is now privatised, continue to receive all the gas they need on firm contracts. That is the inheritance that the present management has from the time when Western Power was split from AlintaGas. All sorts of management arrangements were made to ensure that Western Australians got all the electricity they demanded. In fact, arrangements were made for additional electricity generation from the private power producer in Kalgoorlie. Arrangements were made for fuel swaps. There was an arrangement with Alcoa World Alumina Australia that resulted in Western Power having more gas made available to it. There was an arrangement with the operators of the Parmelia pipeline for more gas to come down the pipeline. I understand, although I do not have the details with me, that there were arrangements with regard to the Mondarra gas storage facility. Nevertheless, despite all the arrangements that were made, we had to rely mostly on coal-fired power station capacity to meet the electricity demand of Western Australians. I understand that arrangements were made for the use of the Mondarra gas storage facility. I do not have with me right now the details of those arrangements. However, if the Leader of the National Party would like to be briefed on the arrangements that were made during that period, I would be happy to arrange that. I conclude by saying that Western Power faced a difficult circumstance through no fault of its own. Western Power’s management is to be congratulated for the way in which it handled the issue and supported the community with this essential service during a period of increased risk.
(4) If the minister has been briefed, why did he not provide this alternative to the community? Mr E.S. RIPPER replied: (1)-(4) The advice to me from Western Power was that 80 per cent of its gas supplies would be unavailable due to required maintenance on the Dampier to Bunbury natural gas pipeline. The reason for that unavailability was that Western Power’s gas contracts, which were inherited from the time when Western Power was split from AlintaGas, provide for only about a quarter of the gas required to be transported on a firm basis. Three-quarters of the gas required to meet electricity demand comes through transport contracts that are able to be interrupted. In other words, if there is a restriction on gas transport capacity, Western Power, by the nature of its contracts, suffers a reduction in the supply of gas, while other customers such as AlintaGas, which is now privatised, continue to receive all the gas they need on firm contracts. That is the inheritance that the present management has from the time when Western Power was split from AlintaGas. All sorts of management arrangements were made to ensure that Western Australians got all the electricity they demanded. In fact, arrangements were made for additional electricity generation from the private power producer in Kalgoorlie. Arrangements were made for fuel swaps. There was an arrangement with Alcoa World Alumina Australia that resulted in Western Power having more gas made available to it. There was an arrangement with the operators of the Parmelia pipeline for more gas to come down the pipeline. I understand, although I do not have the details with me, that there were arrangements with regard to the Mondarra gas storage facility. Nevertheless, despite all the arrangements that were made, we had to rely mostly on coal-fired power station capacity to meet the electricity demand of Western Australians. I understand that arrangements were made for the use of the Mondarra gas storage facility. I do not have with me right now the details of those arrangements. However, if the Leader of the National Party would like to be briefed on the arrangements that were made during that period, I would be happy to arrange that. I conclude by saying that Western Power faced a difficult circumstance through no fault of its own. Western Power’s management is to be congratulated for the way in which it handled the issue and supported the community with this essential service during a period of increased risk.
Mr E.S. RIPPER replied: (1)-(4) The advice to me from Western Power was that 80 per cent of its gas supplies would be unavailable due to required maintenance on the Dampier to Bunbury natural gas pipeline. The reason for that unavailability was that Western Power’s gas contracts, which were inherited from the time when Western Power was split from AlintaGas, provide for only about a quarter of the gas required to be transported on a firm basis. Three-quarters of the gas required to meet electricity demand comes through transport contracts that are able to be interrupted. In other words, if there is a restriction on gas transport capacity, Western Power, by the nature of its contracts, suffers a reduction in the supply of gas, while other customers such as AlintaGas, which is now privatised, continue to receive all the gas they need on firm contracts. That is the inheritance that the present management has from the time when Western Power was split from AlintaGas. All sorts of management arrangements were made to ensure that Western Australians got all the electricity they demanded. In fact, arrangements were made for additional electricity generation from the private power producer in Kalgoorlie. Arrangements were made for fuel swaps. There was an arrangement with Alcoa World Alumina Australia that resulted in Western Power having more gas made available to it. There was an arrangement with the operators of the Parmelia pipeline for more gas to come down the pipeline. I understand, although I do not have the details with me, that there were arrangements with regard to the Mondarra gas storage facility. Nevertheless, despite all the arrangements that were made, we had to rely mostly on coal-fired power station capacity to meet the electricity demand of Western Australians. I understand that arrangements were made for the use of the Mondarra gas storage facility. I do not have with me right now the details of those arrangements. However, if the Leader of the National Party would like to be briefed on the arrangements that were made during that period, I would be happy to arrange that. I conclude by saying that Western Power faced a difficult circumstance through no fault of its own. Western Power’s management is to be congratulated for the way in which it handled the issue and supported the community with this essential service during a period of increased risk.
(1)-(4) The advice to me from Western Power was that 80 per cent of its gas supplies would be unavailable due to required maintenance on the Dampier to Bunbury natural gas pipeline. The reason for that unavailability was that Western Power’s gas contracts, which were inherited from the time when Western Power was split from AlintaGas, provide for only about a quarter of the gas required to be transported on a firm basis. Three-quarters of the gas required to meet electricity demand comes through transport contracts that are able to be interrupted. In other words, if there is a restriction on gas transport capacity, Western Power, by the nature of its contracts, suffers a reduction in the supply of gas, while other customers such as AlintaGas, which is now privatised, continue to receive all the gas they need on firm contracts. That is the inheritance that the present management has from the time when Western Power was split from AlintaGas. All sorts of management arrangements were made to ensure that Western Australians got all the electricity they demanded. In fact, arrangements were made for additional electricity generation from the private power producer in Kalgoorlie. Arrangements were made for fuel swaps. There was an arrangement with Alcoa World Alumina Australia that resulted in Western Power having more gas made available to it. There was an arrangement with the operators of the Parmelia pipeline for more gas to come down the pipeline. I understand, although I do not have the details with me, that there were arrangements with regard to the Mondarra gas storage facility. Nevertheless, despite all the arrangements that were made, we had to rely mostly on coal-fired power station capacity to meet the electricity demand of Western Australians. I understand that arrangements were made for the use of the Mondarra gas storage facility. I do not have with me right now the details of those arrangements. However, if the Leader of the National Party would like to be briefed on the arrangements that were made during that period, I would be happy to arrange that. I conclude by saying that Western Power faced a difficult circumstance through no fault of its own. Western Power’s management is to be congratulated for the way in which it handled the issue and supported the community with this essential service during a period of increased risk.
I conclude by saying that Western Power faced a difficult circumstance through no fault of its own. Western Power’s management is to be congratulated for the way in which it handled the issue and supported the community with this essential service during a period of increased risk.
(1) Why were Western Power customers not spared the anxiety of power blackout warnings by an alternative gas supply being found? (2) Why has the Minister for Energy not implemented an emergency supply system, such as pumping additional gas into the Mondarra gas storage reservoir, which would have allowed Western Power to cope with the upgrade on the pipeline? (3) Has the minister been briefed at any stage during his term as energy minister on the potential of the Mondarra gas storage reservoir to provide an alternative gas supply for emergency situations? (4) If the minister has been briefed, why did he not provide this alternative to the community? Mr E.S. RIPPER replied: (1)-(4) The advice to me from Western Power was that 80 per cent of its gas supplies would be unavailable due to required maintenance on the Dampier to Bunbury natural gas pipeline. The reason for that unavailability was that Western Power’s gas contracts, which were inherited from the time when Western Power was split from AlintaGas, provide for only about a quarter of the gas required to be transported on a firm basis. Three-quarters of the gas required to meet electricity demand comes through transport contracts that are able to be interrupted. In other words, if there is a restriction on gas transport capacity, Western Power, by the nature of its contracts, suffers a reduction in the supply of gas, while other customers such as AlintaGas, which is now privatised, continue to receive all the gas they need on firm contracts. That is the inheritance that the present management has from the time when Western Power was split from AlintaGas. All sorts of management arrangements were made to ensure that Western Australians got all the electricity they demanded. In fact, arrangements were made for additional electricity generation from the private power producer in Kalgoorlie. Arrangements were made for fuel swaps. There was an arrangement with Alcoa World Alumina Australia that resulted in Western Power having more gas made available to it. There was an arrangement with the operators of the Parmelia pipeline for more gas to come down the pipeline. I understand, although I do not have the details with me, that there were arrangements with regard to the Mondarra gas storage facility. Nevertheless, despite all the arrangements that were made, we had to rely mostly on coal-fired power station capacity to meet the electricity demand of Western Australians. I understand that arrangements were made for the use of the Mondarra gas storage facility. I do not have with me right now the details of those arrangements. However, if the Leader of the National Party would like to be briefed on the arrangements that were made during that period, I would be happy to arrange that. I conclude by saying that Western Power faced a difficult circumstance through no fault of its own. Western Power’s management is to be congratulated for the way in which it handled the issue and supported the community with this essential service during a period of increased risk.
(2) Why has the Minister for Energy not implemented an emergency supply system, such as pumping additional gas into the Mondarra gas storage reservoir, which would have allowed Western Power to cope with the upgrade on the pipeline? (3) Has the minister been briefed at any stage during his term as energy minister on the potential of the Mondarra gas storage reservoir to provide an alternative gas supply for emergency situations? (4) If the minister has been briefed, why did he not provide this alternative to the community? Mr E.S. RIPPER replied: (1)-(4) The advice to me from Western Power was that 80 per cent of its gas supplies would be unavailable due to required maintenance on the Dampier to Bunbury natural gas pipeline. The reason for that unavailability was that Western Power’s gas contracts, which were inherited from the time when Western Power was split from AlintaGas, provide for only about a quarter of the gas required to be transported on a firm basis. Three-quarters of the gas required to meet electricity demand comes through transport contracts that are able to be interrupted. In other words, if there is a restriction on gas transport capacity, Western Power, by the nature of its contracts, suffers a reduction in the supply of gas, while other customers such as AlintaGas, which is now privatised, continue to receive all the gas they need on firm contracts. That is the inheritance that the present management has from the time when Western Power was split from AlintaGas. All sorts of management arrangements were made to ensure that Western Australians got all the electricity they demanded. In fact, arrangements were made for additional electricity generation from the private power producer in Kalgoorlie. Arrangements were made for fuel swaps. There was an arrangement with Alcoa World Alumina Australia that resulted in Western Power having more gas made available to it. There was an arrangement with the operators of the Parmelia pipeline for more gas to come down the pipeline. I understand, although I do not have the details with me, that there were arrangements with regard to the Mondarra gas storage facility. Nevertheless, despite all the arrangements that were made, we had to rely mostly on coal-fired power station capacity to meet the electricity demand of Western Australians. I understand that arrangements were made for the use of the Mondarra gas storage facility. I do not have with me right now the details of those arrangements. However, if the Leader of the National Party would like to be briefed on the arrangements that were made during that period, I would be happy to arrange that. I conclude by saying that Western Power faced a difficult circumstance through no fault of its own. Western Power’s management is to be congratulated for the way in which it handled the issue and supported the community with this essential service during a period of increased risk.
(3) Has the minister been briefed at any stage during his term as energy minister on the potential of the Mondarra gas storage reservoir to provide an alternative gas supply for emergency situations? (4) If the minister has been briefed, why did he not provide this alternative to the community? Mr E.S. RIPPER replied: (1)-(4) The advice to me from Western Power was that 80 per cent of its gas supplies would be unavailable due to required maintenance on the Dampier to Bunbury natural gas pipeline. The reason for that unavailability was that Western Power’s gas contracts, which were inherited from the time when Western Power was split from AlintaGas, provide for only about a quarter of the gas required to be transported on a firm basis. Three-quarters of the gas required to meet electricity demand comes through transport contracts that are able to be interrupted. In other words, if there is a restriction on gas transport capacity, Western Power, by the nature of its contracts, suffers a reduction in the supply of gas, while other customers such as AlintaGas, which is now privatised, continue to receive all the gas they need on firm contracts. That is the inheritance that the present management has from the time when Western Power was split from AlintaGas. All sorts of management arrangements were made to ensure that Western Australians got all the electricity they demanded. In fact, arrangements were made for additional electricity generation from the private power producer in Kalgoorlie. Arrangements were made for fuel swaps. There was an arrangement with Alcoa World Alumina Australia that resulted in Western Power having more gas made available to it. There was an arrangement with the operators of the Parmelia pipeline for more gas to come down the pipeline. I understand, although I do not have the details with me, that there were arrangements with regard to the Mondarra gas storage facility. Nevertheless, despite all the arrangements that were made, we had to rely mostly on coal-fired power station capacity to meet the electricity demand of Western Australians. I understand that arrangements were made for the use of the Mondarra gas storage facility. I do not have with me right now the details of those arrangements. However, if the Leader of the National Party would like to be briefed on the arrangements that were made during that period, I would be happy to arrange that. I conclude by saying that Western Power faced a difficult circumstance through no fault of its own. Western Power’s management is to be congratulated for the way in which it handled the issue and supported the community with this essential service during a period of increased risk.
(4) If the minister has been briefed, why did he not provide this alternative to the community? Mr E.S. RIPPER replied: (1)-(4) The advice to me from Western Power was that 80 per cent of its gas supplies would be unavailable due to required maintenance on the Dampier to Bunbury natural gas pipeline. The reason for that unavailability was that Western Power’s gas contracts, which were inherited from the time when Western Power was split from AlintaGas, provide for only about a quarter of the gas required to be transported on a firm basis. Three-quarters of the gas required to meet electricity demand comes through transport contracts that are able to be interrupted. In other words, if there is a restriction on gas transport capacity, Western Power, by the nature of its contracts, suffers a reduction in the supply of gas, while other customers such as AlintaGas, which is now privatised, continue to receive all the gas they need on firm contracts. That is the inheritance that the present management has from the time when Western Power was split from AlintaGas. All sorts of management arrangements were made to ensure that Western Australians got all the electricity they demanded. In fact, arrangements were made for additional electricity generation from the private power producer in Kalgoorlie. Arrangements were made for fuel swaps. There was an arrangement with Alcoa World Alumina Australia that resulted in Western Power having more gas made available to it. There was an arrangement with the operators of the Parmelia pipeline for more gas to come down the pipeline. I understand, although I do not have the details with me, that there were arrangements with regard to the Mondarra gas storage facility. Nevertheless, despite all the arrangements that were made, we had to rely mostly on coal-fired power station capacity to meet the electricity demand of Western Australians. I understand that arrangements were made for the use of the Mondarra gas storage facility. I do not have with me right now the details of those arrangements. However, if the Leader of the National Party would like to be briefed on the arrangements that were made during that period, I would be happy to arrange that. I conclude by saying that Western Power faced a difficult circumstance through no fault of its own. Western Power’s management is to be congratulated for the way in which it handled the issue and supported the community with this essential service during a period of increased risk.
Mr E.S. RIPPER replied: (1)-(4) The advice to me from Western Power was that 80 per cent of its gas supplies would be unavailable due to required maintenance on the Dampier to Bunbury natural gas pipeline. The reason for that unavailability was that Western Power’s gas contracts, which were inherited from the time when Western Power was split from AlintaGas, provide for only about a quarter of the gas required to be transported on a firm basis. Three-quarters of the gas required to meet electricity demand comes through transport contracts that are able to be interrupted. In other words, if there is a restriction on gas transport capacity, Western Power, by the nature of its contracts, suffers a reduction in the supply of gas, while other customers such as AlintaGas, which is now privatised, continue to receive all the gas they need on firm contracts. That is the inheritance that the present management has from the time when Western Power was split from AlintaGas. All sorts of management arrangements were made to ensure that Western Australians got all the electricity they demanded. In fact, arrangements were made for additional electricity generation from the private power producer in Kalgoorlie. Arrangements were made for fuel swaps. There was an arrangement with Alcoa World Alumina Australia that resulted in Western Power having more gas made available to it. There was an arrangement with the operators of the Parmelia pipeline for more gas to come down the pipeline. I understand, although I do not have the details with me, that there were arrangements with regard to the Mondarra gas storage facility. Nevertheless, despite all the arrangements that were made, we had to rely mostly on coal-fired power station capacity to meet the electricity demand of Western Australians. I understand that arrangements were made for the use of the Mondarra gas storage facility. I do not have with me right now the details of those arrangements. However, if the Leader of the National Party would like to be briefed on the arrangements that were made during that period, I would be happy to arrange that. I conclude by saying that Western Power faced a difficult circumstance through no fault of its own. Western Power’s management is to be congratulated for the way in which it handled the issue and supported the community with this essential service during a period of increased risk.
(1)-(4) The advice to me from Western Power was that 80 per cent of its gas supplies would be unavailable due to required maintenance on the Dampier to Bunbury natural gas pipeline. The reason for that unavailability was that Western Power’s gas contracts, which were inherited from the time when Western Power was split from AlintaGas, provide for only about a quarter of the gas required to be transported on a firm basis. Three-quarters of the gas required to meet electricity demand comes through transport contracts that are able to be interrupted. In other words, if there is a restriction on gas transport capacity, Western Power, by the nature of its contracts, suffers a reduction in the supply of gas, while other customers such as AlintaGas, which is now privatised, continue to receive all the gas they need on firm contracts. That is the inheritance that the present management has from the time when Western Power was split from AlintaGas. All sorts of management arrangements were made to ensure that Western Australians got all the electricity they demanded. In fact, arrangements were made for additional electricity generation from the private power producer in Kalgoorlie. Arrangements were made for fuel swaps. There was an arrangement with Alcoa World Alumina Australia that resulted in Western Power having more gas made available to it. There was an arrangement with the operators of the Parmelia pipeline for more gas to come down the pipeline. I understand, although I do not have the details with me, that there were arrangements with regard to the Mondarra gas storage facility. Nevertheless, despite all the arrangements that were made, we had to rely mostly on coal-fired power station capacity to meet the electricity demand of Western Australians. I understand that arrangements were made for the use of the Mondarra gas storage facility. I do not have with me right now the details of those arrangements. However, if the Leader of the National Party would like to be briefed on the arrangements that were made during that period, I would be happy to arrange that. I conclude by saying that Western Power faced a difficult circumstance through no fault of its own. Western Power’s management is to be congratulated for the way in which it handled the issue and supported the community with this essential service during a period of increased risk.
I conclude by saying that Western Power faced a difficult circumstance through no fault of its own. Western Power’s management is to be congratulated for the way in which it handled the issue and supported the community with this essential service during a period of increased risk.
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