Coal news and updates

The Victorian government has declared a state energy emergency after the Yallourn power station and coal mine, in the Latrobe Valley, was damaged in recent flooding.

 

Energy Minister Lily D'Ambrosio says significant cracks identified in the mine had put it at risk of flooding, and "the impact of that would be significant".

 

"We need to take swift action, and the best way to take swift action is declaring this energy emergency," Ms D'Ambrosio said.

 

The Yallourn power station supplies more than a fifth of the state's energy.

 

The government says the Australian Energy Market Operator has given it assurances there is still sufficient supply of power to meet the state's needs.

 

The declaration will allow Energy Australia to undertake emergency works, without going through normal planning and regulatory approvals, and divert river water away from the mine, relieving water pressure on the mine walls.

 

In 2012, the Latrobe River entered the mine, shutting it for weeks.

 

Meanwhile, about 7,000 households still without power after last week's storms will be eligible for a new payment from the Victorian government. 

 

Gusts of over 100 kilometres per hour and heavy rain pummelled parts of eastern Melbourne and Victoria leading to widespread black-outs, trees falling onto and destroying homes, and flooding that claimed the lives of two people.

 

Acting Premier James Merlino said a payment of up to $1,680 per week would be available for households that were still cut off from power as of today.

 

Mr Merlino said thousands of households being without power in "the depths of winter" was "an unprecedented emergency" and current disaster recovery funding arrangements did not cover the situation the state was in.

 

AusNet Services yesterday said about 3,000 customers would likely be cut off from power until July 10.

 

"In terms of households without power, the current disaster arrangements between the state and federal government do not cover that, so we're announcing a prolonged power outage payment," Mr Merlino said.

 

"I live up here and lived in this region my whole life and I've never seen the extent of damage that's here in the Dandenong Ranges," he said.

 

Source : https://www.abc.net.au/news