WA Premier Roger Cook has criticised state-owned utilities Western Power and Synergy for failing to ensure adequate back-up supplies were in place before undertaking major works on the state's main power grid.
Roger Cook , flanked by Kalgoorlie MLA Ali Kent and DFES assistant commissioner Craig Waters, says he is fed up with his visits to Kalgoorlie coinciding with power outages.Last Friday 20,000 customers had no power for about eight hours due to a trip in the South West Interconnected System .Australia's biggest gold miner, Northern Star Resources , is seeking expressions of interest for a large-scale renewable energy project at the Kalgoorlie Super Pit .
It followed blackouts in January, when Kalgoorlie-Boulder's back-up power supply failed during a heatwave, prompting the Premier to announce that two aging gas turbines in the city would be replaced."There was a new energy project in Cunderdin which was being introduced into the grid," Mr Cook said. "I don't think managed the risk properly and I've asked the Energy Minister to bring them in, and we're going to have a bit of a shout about this one, because I'm frustrated and annoyed."Mr Cook said a state government tender process that began earlier this year with the aim of introducing 150 megawatts of new power generation in the Goldfields had closed.
Northern Star managing director Stuart Tonkin said it was part of the effort to cut emissions by 35 per cent by 2030. Opposition energy spokesperson Steve Thomas said there would not be any new power generation until 2026 at the earliest. "While I am not blaming the government for an individual power outage, this is now a trend in Kalgoorlie that could have and should have been fixed."
Synergy Roger Cook Super Pit Lynas Rare Earths Steve Thomas Northern Star Resources South West Interconnected System SWIS Wa Power Outages Goldfields Power Outages Wheatbelt Power Outages Wa Premier
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