Aviva Corporation Ltd is progressing the development of a 2x200MV baseload power station in the Mid West region of Western Australia. The Project will be known as the Coolimba Power Project.
Fuel for the Coolimba Power Project will be sourced from a coal deposit 20km south of Eneabba and 150km south of the port of Geraldton. The deposit has the potential to produce the lowest cost fuel for power generation in the State, and is the key to unlocking the potential of the Mid West.
The Project will benefit from existing infrastructure in the region, including high voltage power, highway access, railway and an established mining township.
The Project is based on an existing minesite and will have minimal impact on native flora and fauna in the area. The entire Project area is encompassed by a mining lease and freehold title and is currently used for either agricultural or mining purposes.
Importantly, the Coolimba Power Project is located within the South West Interconnected System (SWIS). The SWIS services electricity customers north of Perth to Kalbarri and south of Perth to Albany. The vast majority of existing coal fired power generation in the SWIS is presently located south of Perth in Collie.
The Project will underpin economic development and growth in the Mid West and add a third major energy source into the SWIS. It will provide baseload power at competitive prices due to its low cost fuel and close proximity to growing demand.
With the current booming economy in the State, the demand for electricity across the SWIS and particularly the Mid West is growing rapidly. Customers for power from the Project will range from existing retailers operating in the SWIS, to existing wholesale customers in the Mid West and new resource projects in the region. Existing and potential users in the Mid West total more than 500MW.
Upon commissioning, the Coolimba Power Station will constitute 8% of the installed capacity in the SWIS network and have an operating life of 30 years. Construction is planned to commence in late 2008 and will extend over three years for completion in 2011/12.