MORTLAKE’S gas-fired power station is ready to spin into action if a protracted industrial dispute causes a major Gippsland generator to be shut down tomorrow.
The Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union has warned it will stop the Loy Yang B power station for 24 hours, because wage agreement negotiations have stalled.
Origin Energy, which owns the Mortlake plant, told The Standard the peak-load facility was ready to fire if needed.
Australia’s energy marketer said it was hard to predict if Mortlake would be called on.
“That depends on market demands,” spokesman Joe Adamo said.
“We’re confident we’ve got sufficient generation to meet the state’s power needs.”
Mortlake can generate 550 megawatts into the national grid when operating at full capacity. It has been used several times since opening last year to add extra capacity on days of peak demand.
Loy Yang B owner, GDF Suez, has taken the union to Fair Work Australia to stop the strike.
