Three back up generators deployed to Denmark and Walpole to cope with new load from Western Australia nickel plant at Ravensthorpe, from June 2007: $14 million spent over 5 years

Fran Logan, Western Australia Minister for Energy, and ALP Member for Cockburn told Parliament on 14 August 2007 that three generators were deployed to Ravensthorpe to provide support to the local electricity network from June 2007.

Regular review: “The economic case for a transmission solution versus continued operation of the embedded generators will be reviewed regularly”, said Logan. The generators would automatically ‘switch-on’ if the capacity of the local electricity network was exceeded, ensuring continuity of supply throughout the winter peak period. Over the next 12-18 months, a ‘peak lopping’ power station would be established at the old power station site in Ravensthorpe. The generators would provide adequate additional power capacity to meet demand in the area for the next 8 -10 years.

Denmark/Walpole: $14 million of work had started in Denmark and Walpole. It would be completed over the next five years and would improve power reliability and increase capacity of supply to the area;

• $2 million to install new regulators and upgrade the existing powerline from the Albany substation, in two stages to be completed by March 2008;

• $10 million would be spent on establishing a new powerline to Denmark by 2012. $2 million had been budgeted on reliability improvement measures over the next 12-18 months.

Reference: Mr Fran Logan Minister for Energy, Member for Cockburn, ALP, Legislative Assembly of Western Australia, Hansard, 14 August 2007. A copy of these proceedings can be accessed at http://www.parliament.wa.gov.au