A WA parliamentary question on notice regarding the January gas supply disruption, specifically focusing on the Minister's involvement, advice received, and discussions with Verve Energy. The Minister's response indicates verbal communication and actions taken during the crisis.

AnsweredQoN 199Legislative Council
Asked
17 March 2008
Portfolio
Energy

QuestionView source ↗

GAS SUPPLY — JANUARY DISRUPTION
I refer the minister to question without notice 114 and the minister’s involvement in the arrangement of the Burrup Fertiliser gas deal during the January domestic gas supply disruption. (1) Will the minister table internal advice given to Verve Energy’s chief executive officer that outlined the options for dealing with the gas supply disruption; and, if not, why not? (2) Who advised the minister about Verve Energy’s need for an extra 10 to 15 terajoules of gas? What position does that person hold? (3) Did the minister discuss the gas issue with anyone from Verve Energy; and, if so, who did he discuss the issue with? Hon KIM CHANCE

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the Leader of the Opposition for some notice of this question. (1) There are no documents to table. Verve Energy’s chief executive officer was advised about options to deal with the gas supply disruption during several meetings with Verve Energy’s Crisis Management Committee. These meetings took place during the supply disruption. The advice provided was verbal. (2) On several occasions during the gas-supply disruption, the need for extra gas was communicated verbally to the minister and to his key staff. The quantity of 10 to 15 terajoules was discussed as being critical in the context of the crisis between Verve Energy’s general manager for trading and fuel and the coordinator of energy on the morning of 3 January 2008. The coordinator of energy advised the minister’s office of Verve Energy’s need for an extra 10 to 15 terajoules of gas. The need for gas was considered critical at the time as it would have enabled significant extra power generation during the afternoon peak period when power supplies were likely to be under threat. (3) Verve Energy’s chief executive officer advised the minister that Verve Energy’s gas supply had been interrupted, and discussed the matter with him on several occasions during the gas supply disruption. The minister also spoke to Verve Energy’s general manager for trading and fuel once during the disruption when the supply of gas from Burrup Fertilisers was discussed.
(1) Will the minister table internal advice given to Verve Energy’s chief executive officer that outlined the options for dealing with the gas supply disruption; and, if not, why not? (2) Who advised the minister about Verve Energy’s need for an extra 10 to 15 terajoules of gas? What position does that person hold? (3) Did the minister discuss the gas issue with anyone from Verve Energy; and, if so, who did he discuss the issue with? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for some notice of this question. (1) There are no documents to table. Verve Energy’s chief executive officer was advised about options to deal with the gas supply disruption during several meetings with Verve Energy’s Crisis Management Committee. These meetings took place during the supply disruption. The advice provided was verbal. (2) On several occasions during the gas-supply disruption, the need for extra gas was communicated verbally to the minister and to his key staff. The quantity of 10 to 15 terajoules was discussed as being critical in the context of the crisis between Verve Energy’s general manager for trading and fuel and the coordinator of energy on the morning of 3 January 2008. The coordinator of energy advised the minister’s office of Verve Energy’s need for an extra 10 to 15 terajoules of gas. The need for gas was considered critical at the time as it would have enabled significant extra power generation during the afternoon peak period when power supplies were likely to be under threat. (3) Verve Energy’s chief executive officer advised the minister that Verve Energy’s gas supply had been interrupted, and discussed the matter with him on several occasions during the gas supply disruption. The minister also spoke to Verve Energy’s general manager for trading and fuel once during the disruption when the supply of gas from Burrup Fertilisers was discussed.
(2) Who advised the minister about Verve Energy’s need for an extra 10 to 15 terajoules of gas? What position does that person hold? (3) Did the minister discuss the gas issue with anyone from Verve Energy; and, if so, who did he discuss the issue with? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for some notice of this question. (1) There are no documents to table. Verve Energy’s chief executive officer was advised about options to deal with the gas supply disruption during several meetings with Verve Energy’s Crisis Management Committee. These meetings took place during the supply disruption. The advice provided was verbal. (2) On several occasions during the gas-supply disruption, the need for extra gas was communicated verbally to the minister and to his key staff. The quantity of 10 to 15 terajoules was discussed as being critical in the context of the crisis between Verve Energy’s general manager for trading and fuel and the coordinator of energy on the morning of 3 January 2008. The coordinator of energy advised the minister’s office of Verve Energy’s need for an extra 10 to 15 terajoules of gas. The need for gas was considered critical at the time as it would have enabled significant extra power generation during the afternoon peak period when power supplies were likely to be under threat. (3) Verve Energy’s chief executive officer advised the minister that Verve Energy’s gas supply had been interrupted, and discussed the matter with him on several occasions during the gas supply disruption. The minister also spoke to Verve Energy’s general manager for trading and fuel once during the disruption when the supply of gas from Burrup Fertilisers was discussed.
(3) Did the minister discuss the gas issue with anyone from Verve Energy; and, if so, who did he discuss the issue with? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for some notice of this question. (1) There are no documents to table. Verve Energy’s chief executive officer was advised about options to deal with the gas supply disruption during several meetings with Verve Energy’s Crisis Management Committee. These meetings took place during the supply disruption. The advice provided was verbal. (2) On several occasions during the gas-supply disruption, the need for extra gas was communicated verbally to the minister and to his key staff. The quantity of 10 to 15 terajoules was discussed as being critical in the context of the crisis between Verve Energy’s general manager for trading and fuel and the coordinator of energy on the morning of 3 January 2008. The coordinator of energy advised the minister’s office of Verve Energy’s need for an extra 10 to 15 terajoules of gas. The need for gas was considered critical at the time as it would have enabled significant extra power generation during the afternoon peak period when power supplies were likely to be under threat. (3) Verve Energy’s chief executive officer advised the minister that Verve Energy’s gas supply had been interrupted, and discussed the matter with him on several occasions during the gas supply disruption. The minister also spoke to Verve Energy’s general manager for trading and fuel once during the disruption when the supply of gas from Burrup Fertilisers was discussed.
Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for some notice of this question. (1) There are no documents to table. Verve Energy’s chief executive officer was advised about options to deal with the gas supply disruption during several meetings with Verve Energy’s Crisis Management Committee. These meetings took place during the supply disruption. The advice provided was verbal. (2) On several occasions during the gas-supply disruption, the need for extra gas was communicated verbally to the minister and to his key staff. The quantity of 10 to 15 terajoules was discussed as being critical in the context of the crisis between Verve Energy’s general manager for trading and fuel and the coordinator of energy on the morning of 3 January 2008. The coordinator of energy advised the minister’s office of Verve Energy’s need for an extra 10 to 15 terajoules of gas. The need for gas was considered critical at the time as it would have enabled significant extra power generation during the afternoon peak period when power supplies were likely to be under threat. (3) Verve Energy’s chief executive officer advised the minister that Verve Energy’s gas supply had been interrupted, and discussed the matter with him on several occasions during the gas supply disruption. The minister also spoke to Verve Energy’s general manager for trading and fuel once during the disruption when the supply of gas from Burrup Fertilisers was discussed.
I thank the Leader of the Opposition for some notice of this question. (1) There are no documents to table. Verve Energy’s chief executive officer was advised about options to deal with the gas supply disruption during several meetings with Verve Energy’s Crisis Management Committee. These meetings took place during the supply disruption. The advice provided was verbal. (2) On several occasions during the gas-supply disruption, the need for extra gas was communicated verbally to the minister and to his key staff. The quantity of 10 to 15 terajoules was discussed as being critical in the context of the crisis between Verve Energy’s general manager for trading and fuel and the coordinator of energy on the morning of 3 January 2008. The coordinator of energy advised the minister’s office of Verve Energy’s need for an extra 10 to 15 terajoules of gas. The need for gas was considered critical at the time as it would have enabled significant extra power generation during the afternoon peak period when power supplies were likely to be under threat. (3) Verve Energy’s chief executive officer advised the minister that Verve Energy’s gas supply had been interrupted, and discussed the matter with him on several occasions during the gas supply disruption. The minister also spoke to Verve Energy’s general manager for trading and fuel once during the disruption when the supply of gas from Burrup Fertilisers was discussed.
(1) There are no documents to table. Verve Energy’s chief executive officer was advised about options to deal with the gas supply disruption during several meetings with Verve Energy’s Crisis Management Committee. These meetings took place during the supply disruption. The advice provided was verbal. (2) On several occasions during the gas-supply disruption, the need for extra gas was communicated verbally to the minister and to his key staff. The quantity of 10 to 15 terajoules was discussed as being critical in the context of the crisis between Verve Energy’s general manager for trading and fuel and the coordinator of energy on the morning of 3 January 2008. The coordinator of energy advised the minister’s office of Verve Energy’s need for an extra 10 to 15 terajoules of gas. The need for gas was considered critical at the time as it would have enabled significant extra power generation during the afternoon peak period when power supplies were likely to be under threat. (3) Verve Energy’s chief executive officer advised the minister that Verve Energy’s gas supply had been interrupted, and discussed the matter with him on several occasions during the gas supply disruption. The minister also spoke to Verve Energy’s general manager for trading and fuel once during the disruption when the supply of gas from Burrup Fertilisers was discussed.

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