Muja Power Station is a power station in Muja, 22 km (14 mi) east of Collie, Western Australia. It has eight steam turbines served by coal-fired boilers that together generate a total capacity of 854 megawatts of electricity. It is the largest power station in the South West Interconnected System, accounting for roughly 15 percent of capacity.[1] The coal is mined in the nearby Collie Sub-basin. In June 2022 the Government of Western Australia announced that the power station would close by 2029.[2]
| Muja Power Station | |
|---|---|
 | |
 | |
| Country | Australia |
| Location | Collie, Western Australia |
| Coordinates | 33°26′47″S 116°18′25″E / 33.4463°S 116.307°E |
| Status | Operational |
| Commission date | 21 April 1966 |
| Owner | Synergy |
| Thermal power station | |
| Primary fuel | Coal |
| Power generation | |
| Units operational | Stage C, Stage D |
| Units decommissioned | Stage A, Stage B |
| Nameplate capacity | 1094 MW |
| External links | |
| Website | www |
| Commons | Related media on Commons |
Construction on the power station by Clough for the State Energy Commission of Western Australia commenced in April 1962.[3] The station was commissioned on 21 April 1966. Currently four of the eight turbines are running (units 5 through to 8). Muja has four 60 megawatts units (stages A and B), two 200 megawatts units (stage C) and two 227 megawatts units (stage D).[4]
According to the National Pollutant Inventory (NPI), Muja Power Station is one of the biggest emitters of air pollution in Australia, including high emissions of beryllium, fluoride and particulate matter. Carbon Monitoring for Action estimates that, in 2009, Muja Power Station emitted 5.75 million tonnes (12.7 billion pounds) of CO2 to generate 5.05 terawatt-hours (18.2 petajoules) of electricity.[5]
In household consumer terms, this equates to 1.14 kilograms (2.5 lb) of CO2 emitted for each one kilowatt-hour (kWh), or 3.6 megajoules, of electricity produced and fed into the electricity grid.[5] That is, Muja Power Station emits slightly more CO2 per kilowatt-hour of electricity produced than nearby Collie Power Station (1.13 kilograms or 2.5 pounds) and much more than Bluewaters Power Station (0.825 kilograms or 1.82 pounds) based on estimates for the same year.[5]
Refurbishment
editThe four smallest and least efficient units (each of 60 megawatts), stages A and B, were closed in April 2007. In June 2008 it was announced that these older generator units would be recommissioned, due to a statewide natural gas shortage.[6] Verve Energy entered into a joint venture with engineering firm Kempe of Geelong to refurbish four mothballed generating units of Muja.[7] In 2010, a $150 million loan was taken by Kempe subsidiary Inalco with a guarantee from Verve Energy.[8]
2012 explosion
editIn 2012 during the attempted recommissioning of stages A and B, an explosion occurred in unit 3 at the refurbished A B area due to corroded piping.[9] A man was burnt, though the station continued to operate (stage C, D) during the incident. Australian Manufacturing Workers Union state secretary Steve McCartney hailed the lack of casualties as a miracle.[10] The joint venture collapsed amid massive cost overruns and an explosion caused by corroded boiler tubes that were not properly inspected before the refurbishment plan was approved.[7][8] Kempe ran into financial difficulty and has been trying to exit the joint venture for a year.[8] Before Verve's decision on refurbishment, a number of private companies which were offered to buy the power station concluded it would be too risky.[7]
A & B unit mothballing
editOn 25 June 2013, after spending $250 million on the planned recommissioning of units A and B, Premier Colin Barnett shelved the project.[11][12] Barnett told Parliament that no further work would be done on the generators for the time being, saying "The government has made a decision with respect to Muja A and B units; three and four continue to operate, units one and two are basically mothballed."[13]
However, the government pressed ahead in September claiming the cost of refurbishment can be recouped over the 15-year expected life of the plant even though it has ballooned to $308 million.[12] In a report by KPMG, to continue the project would cost a further $46 million, and return $54 million in value over ten years, assuming the $290 million spent was written off.[7] In the following months the work was completed quietly and as of 2014 the Muja A and B units are used intermittently, primarily during summer peak times.
In November 2014, part of the wall surrounding water cooling tower of Unit 7 collapsed.[14]
In September 2017, Synergy announced imminent closure of Muja A and B because the necessary repair of cooling towers deemed it commercially unviable.[15] The 2018/19 state budget allocated $48.1 million to work at Muja Stages C and D. This work included $6 million on the refurbishment of the Stage C Turbine and replacement of associated components and $4.2 million on an upgrade to electrical switchboards for Stages C and D.[16]
In August 2019, Synergy announced that Stage C would close by 2024. Stage C Unit 5 was turned off on 29 September 2022 and Stage C Unit 6 will be retired in October 2025.[17] The two units in Stage D will remain operational until 2029.[18][2]
References
edit- ^ "Secret report puts Collie plant at 2025 shutdown". The West Australian. 1 February 2019. Archived from the original on 11 February 2021. Retrieved 17 December 2020.
- ^ a b Mercer, Daniel; Bourke, Keane; Loney, Georgia (14 June 2022). "Synergy coal power stations including Muja to close as WA Government prioritises renewable energy". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
- ^ Muja Power Station Clough
- ^ Mercer, Daniel (12 October 2020). "Renewable energy to replace coal in WA's biggest power grid as solar hollows market, report predicts". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 12 October 2020. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
- ^ a b c "Carbon Monitoring for Action (CARMA) Database v3.0". Center for Global Development. July 2012. Archived from the original on 6 February 2009. Retrieved 28 August 2018.
- ^ "WA gas crisis poses threat to economy". The Australian. News Limited. 12 June 2008. Archived from the original on 17 June 2008. Retrieved 29 June 2008.
- ^ a b c d "Business blasts more spending on Muja". The West Australian. 15 September 2013. Archived from the original on 3 April 2021. Retrieved 17 December 2020.
- ^ a b c "$150m Muja loan mystery". The West Australian. 30 June 2013. Archived from the original on 3 April 2021. Retrieved 17 December 2020.
- ^ "Man burnt in Muja blast | Collie Mail". 9 July 2012. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 25 June 2013.
- ^ "Muja Power Station Explosion". The West. June 2012. Archived from the original on 6 July 2013. Retrieved 25 June 2013.
- ^ "Government suspends work on Muja power station". ABC News. 25 June 2013. Archived from the original on 26 June 2013. Retrieved 25 June 2013.
- ^ a b "Government defends Muja power station cost blowout". ABC News. 10 April 2014. Archived from the original on 1 November 2016. Retrieved 17 December 2020.
- ^ "Call for inquiry into Muja Power Station Fiasco". ABC News. 25 June 2013. Archived from the original on 31 October 2016. Retrieved 25 June 2013.
- ^ "Safety fears after WA cooling tower partially collapses". ABC News. 11 November 2014. Archived from the original on 22 February 2021. Retrieved 17 December 2020.
- ^ "WA power station to close despite $300m taxpayer help". The West Australian. 13 September 2017. Archived from the original on 30 November 2020. Retrieved 17 December 2020.
- ^ Ben Wyatt (10 May 2018). "Western Australia State Budget 2018-19 (Part 12)" (PDF). Government of Western Australia. Archived (PDF) from the original on 14 September 2018. Retrieved 14 September 2018.
- ^ Muja coal-fired power station to stay open longer as future WA energy shortfall revealed in AEMO report ABC News 17 August 2023
- ^ "Synergy to retire Muja Power Station Unit C over five years". Synergy. 5 August 2019. Archived from the original on 18 October 2020. Retrieved 18 October 2020.