The proposed integrated project includes Western Australia's first privately-owned coal fired power station, a scheme to significantly reduce salinity in the Collie Basin, plans to potentially provide up to 50 gigalitres (GL) of additional potable water to the State (15% of the current needs of the South West) and a 40-80 megawatt (MW) windpower project north of Perth.
Griffin said the unique sustainable development, which would balance electricity generation with innovative environmental solutions, would create up to 1000 jobs during the construction phase of the power station. The company said further employment and industry spin-offs from the additional water resources were anticipated which included commercial tree planting.
Griffin Energy is proposing a greenfields coal fired power installation be built on Griffin-owned land adjacent to the existing Collie A plant, south of Perth. The plant will be fuelled from the nearby Griffin Ewington mines and marketed to a range of customers who the company says have already expressed early interest in buying electricity from the proposed Griffin power station.
The first stage of the development, a 350-400 MW plant costing about A$500million, is expected to be completed by the end of 2006. Additional capacity may be added by 2008, possibly in conjunction with a nearby industrial park, depending on forecast electricity demand.
The wind farm would be built in partnership with the Stanwell Corporation, one of Australia¹s largest renewable energy suppliers.
Griffin Energy CEO Barry Eldridge said he was confident Griffin could generate electricity at a competitive price. "There is a ready market in WA for additional electricity," he said.
"An important component of this initiative is that the modern, more environmentally-friendly, high efficiency coal fired power station will ultimately replace the older and less efficient power plants that are significant greenhouse gas emitters.
"Griffin accepts that fossil fuels have a significant role to play in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. By using our mining and generating operations in an integrated manner, we can deliver a sustainable resource project with major environmental and economic spin-offs for the State."
