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Media Releases |
Media Release - Department of Planning Sydney: 5 December 2008 METHANE GAS TO FUEL UPGRADED POWER STATION AT NARRABRI The NSW Government has given approval for a power station near Narrabri to triple its output by using methane gas from coal seams.
Major Projects Assessments, Executive Director Chris Wilson said the $42 million project at Wilga Park Power Station represented significant greenhouse savings both in comparison with the upgrade or building of a new coal-fired power station or the current practice of direct venting of the coal seam gas into the atmosphere.
The project includes construction of a 32 kilometre buried pipeline from the power station to testing wells at its Bibblewindi and Bohena Coal Seam Gas Pilot Projects.
“This proposal will help the State of NSW meet the challenge of providing base-load electricity in a sustainable way—and at the same time avoid the waste of a non-renewable fuel source,” Mr Wilson said.
“The project represents a way of beneficially using coal seam gas that would be otherwise lost into the atmosphere.”
The power station south west of Narrabri, is operated by Eastern Star Gas.
Coal seam gas from the testing wells will boost the power station output from its current maximum capacity of 12 megawatts to 40 megawatts.
“In reality, the output of this power station is about to increase even more dramatically.
“That’s because in recent times, the power station has been producing just 3 megawatts due to a downgrade of gas supply from its current source,” Mr Wilson said.
“And this project is good news for local employment, generating 30 jobs in the construction phase and up to 10 jobs in operation.”
The Minister said she had imposed strict conditions on the expansion of the power station.
There will be stringent monitoring of noise levels and air quality.
In addition, any vegetation cleared for the proposed pipeline and other facilities will have to be offset by Eastern Star Gas through a comprehensive biodiversity offset strategy in consultation with the Department of Environment and Climate Change.
“The Department is satisfied that this project meets the State Government’s objectives of tackling our power needs, utilising a fuel resource that would otherwise be wasted and helping cut greenhouse gases,” Mr Wilson said.
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