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Port Augusta's coal-fired power station closes
Monday, 9 May 2016 05:35:18
Some staff will be kept on to help with the power station's decommissioning process. (ABC News: Khama Reid)
The coal furnaces at Alinta Energy's Port Augusta power station in South Australia's north will go cold today as it goes offline.
The closure of the coal-fired station means power generation in the state is about to enter a new era.
Less than a year ago, Alinta Energy announced the station would close.
The company closed its coal mine at Leigh Creek, which fuelled its Playford A power station late last year, but trainloads of coal have been making the journey to the power station several times a week until only recently.
Port Augusta's mayor Sam Johnson said the power station helped diversify the city's economy when it was a rail hub in the 1940s and 50s.
"It gave a significant economic injection into Port Augusta both then and over its 62-year history," he said.
About 140 employees have remained at the power station until now, and some will stay on for decommissioning.
The decommissioning process could take about 18 months to two years to complete.
The Playford B power station was mothballed in 2012.
Less back-up energy for peak times
Australian Electricity Council chief executive Matthew Warren said due to the power station's closure the state would have less back-up energy available on days of peak demand.
He said the sate would have a greater reliance on renewable energy and on the inter-connector from Victoria for base-load power.
"The reality for South Australians is that we're in uncharted waters," he said.
"There's an increased level of risk that we really haven't seen before anywhere in the world, so it doesn't mean we'll have more blackouts, hopefully if we're smart we can sort out solutions so power supply can be the same as usual, but it's an increased risk."
Alinta Energy has praised its Port Augusta and Leigh Creek workforce and described them as one of its greatest assets over the past five years.
Alinta's paid $3.5 million to support workers to transition into new work, on top of $75 million in entitlements and benefits.
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