Australia’s three largest east-coast gas producers have held emergency talks to hash out a new deal to shore up domestic supplies.
The power and gas supplier has locked in half of the 6 million tonnes of coal it needs to ease the threat of a fuel shortage at Australia’s largest power plant.
Origin Energy and EnergyAustralia want support for new projects that would back up renewables,and want to be paid for guaranteeing power,not just providing it.
Power and gas supplier Origin Energy has been dealt a record $17 million fine after breaching legal obligations to tens of thousands of customers.
The Australian Workers’ Union’s demand comes as energy chiefs warn more small electricity retailers could collapse under the weight of soaring wholesale prices.
The Albanese government is under pressure to stop spiralling power bills amid the worst energy crisis in decades.
Origin’s coal supply woes are being further exacerbated by difficulties in receiving other coal by rail - some of which are being affected by excess rain.
A shortage of coal at Australia’s largest power station threatens to deepen a worsening energy crisis engulfing the east coast,and send power bills even higher.
Origin Energy has received federal government clearance to continue drilling for gas in the Beetaloo Basin despite its joint venture’s links to a Russian oligarch.
Australian resources projects controlled by Rio Tinto and Origin Energy have been thrown deeper into uncertainty after the federal government extended sanctions to Russian oligarchs.
Origin has scaled up its plans for large-scale renewables ahead of the early closure of Australia’s biggest coal-fired power plant.