WA: Iron ore producers support new electricity hub

AAP General News (Australia)
08-20-2008
WA: Iron ore producers support new electricity hub

Industry groups and the state opposition have come out in support of West Australian
government plans for a major electricity grid system across the Pilbara.

Premier ALAN CARPENTER says an interconnected power hub for the Pilbara region can
produce six thousand megawatts by 2015.

Currently .. many mining companies produce their own electricity on site .. using gas
or diesel generated power.

Opposition Leader COLIN BARNETT supports the idea of an integrated power system ..

but says it's laughable the government is proposing a stable and secure energy supply
AFTER the Varanus Island gas crisis.

Meanwhile .. The Association of Mining and Energy Companies says such a hub is likely
to benefit smaller players .. with its director MEGAN ANWYLL saying working together is
the only way to open up the region to smaller players.

But Industry representatives privately say major mining giants like Rio Tinto .. BHP-Billiton
and Woodside may be hard pressed to take part in an integrated supply system.

AAP RTV jp/was/ldj/de/wz/af

KEYWORD: POLLWA POWER (PERTH)

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