Power to boost regional business

The massive Kogan Creek power project is bolstering business activity across the Darling Downs and diversifying the local industry mix.

Currently the largest power station under construction in Australia, the project promises to provide ongoing benefits for staff and local contractors within the region.

CS Energy’s philosophy is to become a part of the community in which it operates - providing training and business opportunities for local people and supporting worthwhile community projects.

Since 2004, CS Energy and construction partners Siemens/Hitachi, have worked with education and training bodies, contractors and local councils to encourage local residents to train for positions at the power station.

Construction-related courses which recognise prior learning have been well received with over 100 local residents applying for accreditation.

CS Energy also partnered with Downs Group Training to develop a unique community-based apprenticeship scheme. In their first year the apprentices are placed with local business before moving to one of the other CS Energy stations to continue training.  The initial intake includes one electrical and two mechanical trades apprentices who will eventually join the Kogan Power Station team.

The site has already clocked up more than 1.25 million hours of construction work, with over 840 people employed on the site in May. The facility is expected to be fully operational by September 2007.

The project also includes the nearby Kogan Coal Mine which will fuel the plant. Coal will be carried to the power station by a giant conveyor belt that stretches over 4kms.

The plant will generate 750 megawatts from a single boiler, turbine and generator unit. It boasts the nation’s largest dry cooling tower and because it employs the dry cooling system it will use 90 per cent less water than a conventional power station.

Bore water will be the main water source for the plant and CS Energy is also investigating the use of coal seam gas by-water to further reduce the demand on bore water supplies.

The project will generate enough electricity to power 885,000 homes and underpin the security of the region’s electricity supply. Expressions of interest from major power station plant suppliers are already being sought for a second stage of the project that could see the power station double in size.

Electricity will be sold into the National Electricity Market as economic and population growth in Queensland’s South East continues to drive up consumer demand.

The project is expected to provide ongoing benefits for the Darling Downs region adding strength to existing commercial and industrial development.