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Sydney, Sep 18, 2006 -- RWE
The Australian Gas Light Company (ASX code: AGL) today announced plans to build Australia's largest hydroelectric power plant in 25 years to provide additional peaking electricity generation capacity for Victoria and increase the amount of zero-emission electricity produced by AGL's power generation assets. The company also announced the commissioning of the nearby 12.2MW Banimboola hydroelectric power station. Bogong will increase the hydro proportion of AGL's wholesale generation portfolio by 5 per cent, which means almost half of AGL's total generation portfolio will produce zero emissions. The Bogong power station will be built adjacent to Bogong Village at the base of Lake Guy, augmenting the existing Kiewa hydro electric scheme. The project will transform the Kiewa scheme into a more efficient peak operation by allowing the nearby 150MW McKay Creek power station to operate at its maximum capacity of 160MW and enabling instantaneous water delivery to the 29MW Clover power station, also part of the Kiewa scheme. Bogong has been designed to minimise the environmental impacts of the operation of McKay Creek by returning the Pretty Valley branch of the East Kiewa River to natural water flows during normal operation. This will be achieved through construction of a 6.5-kilometre underground tunnel between McKay Creek and Bogong. At Banimboola, AGL has commissioned a new power station which optimises the generation capabilities of the Dartmouth Reservoir and will provide additional generation during peak demand months. Both power stations, when in full production, will provide enough electricity to meet the summer demand of about 122,000 average homes and realise the abatement of more than 185,000 tonnes a year of greenhouse gas emissions. AGL shares rose 32c to $21.07 this morning. News Provided By |
