The market has today been advised of new return to service dates for Callide C Power Station Units C3 and C4.
CS Energy owns Callide C in a 50/50 JV with IG Power.
CS Energy has been evaluating options for safely returning the Unit C3 cooling tower to service after a structural failure of a section of the tower in October 2022.
In November 2022 external engineering experts were appointed to assess the condition of the cooling tower, investigate the root cause of the incident and what needs to be done to safely return the unit to service.
While the C4 cooling tower was not damaged in the incident, external engineering experts were also asked to provide a condition assessment of the C4 cooling tower as it is of the same design and age.
This morning the market was advised of new return to service dates for the two Callide C units. The change in return to service dates reflects CS Energy’s support for rebuilding both cooling towers. CS Energy’s position is based on a scope of work incorporating both cooling towers and tenders CS Energy has received from contractors. We are currently working this through with our JV partner.
| Available capacity |
|
Previous |
New |
| Unit C3 |
Staged return to service from June 2023 |
30 Sept 2023 – 300 MW
31 Dec 2023 – 466 MW
|
| Unit C4 |
Staged return to service from May 2023 |
31 Oct 2023 – 300 MW
30 Nov 2023 – 350 MW
31 Jan 2024 – 466MW
|
Note: both Callide C units will have a registered capacity of 424 MW, with an overload capacity of 466 MW if required by the market.
Recovery works on Unit C4 are continuing following a separate incident in May 2021.
It not unusual for generators to adjust their return to service dates for units that are undergoing major maintenance or repairs, depending on issues identified during the process.
Callide Power Station has a permanent workforce of 226 people and is comprised of two power plants, Callide B and C, each with two generating units (B1 and B2, C3 and C4).
CS Energy owns 100 per cent of Callide B and owns Callide C in a 50/50 joint venture (JV) with IG Power.
Image: The Callide C cooling towers are the rectangular structures shown at right.