Double the power for Abbot Point in $27 million upgrade Electricity supply to Bowen's Abbot Point Coal Terminal will be doubled in one of the biggest electrical infrastructure upgrades in the region in many years, Mines and Energy Minister Geoff Wilson said.
Minister Wilson, in north Queensland for the Bligh Government's Community Cabinet Meeting, said the $27 million upgrade would meet future demand for power at the busy coal terminal.
"The project will be delivered in four stages and will double the electricity supply available to the coal terminal," Mr Wilson said.
"This is about the Bligh Government planning for the future.
"We're spending $1.6 million every hour of every day to build and rebuild our infrastructure, from Bamaga to Birdsville and everywhere in between, including Bowen.
"We're rolling up our sleeves and getting on with the job of securing the region's power supply. The power boost will cater for the increased quantity of export coal produced by mines in the Bowen Basin and meet the upgrade to port facilities.
"We're planning now and building now to meet the expected growth in the region," he said.
Minister Wilson said Ergon Energy's Merinda substation would be rebuilt with an additional transformer and a 66,000 volt powerline to boost supply to Abbot Point's coal-handling facilities.
"The Merinda Substation will also be connected to a new 132,000 volt substation to be built nearby," he said. Stage one of the project - the new 66,000 volt powerline to Abbot Point and work at Merinda Substation - is expected to start later this year and be completed by September next year.
"Other stages will then roll out with the overall project scheduled for completion in late 2010.
"It will not only meet future demand for power from the coal terminal, commercial activities in the Bowen area also stand to gain from the boost to supply," he said.
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