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Three separate sources,including the one linked directly to the company,said that Bowen was furious with Broad’s blunt message that 30 per cent was not initially possible because of technology constraints and the high economic cost,and had not accepted Broad’s advice.

The company source said that Broad had had a bad first meeting with Bowen and “that didn’t do him any good”.

A front page story in theNewcastle Herald on Monday,which suggested the federal government was backing away from its plan to have the plant use 30 per cent green hydrogen,was the final straw:at that point,the three sources said,Broad’s position was no longer tenable.

“They had had a series of robust conversations about Kurri and the delays to Snowy,which Broad explained away because of COVID.” a second source familiar with discussions between Broad and Bowen,who also asked not to be named,said.

Former Snowy Hydro CEO Paul Broad and former Prime Minister Scott Morrison on a tour of the Snowy Hydro Lobs Hole site,during their visit for the commissioning of a second tunnel boring machine,on Friday 3 December 2021Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

In a statement on its website,the Snowy Board confirmed it would “commence a process to identify new leadership. Roger Whitby,chief operating officer,will lead the organisation on an interim basis,with support from Paul to facilitate a smooth transition”.

A spokeswoman for Bowen said “the government values Snowy Hydro and its critical role in supporting a changing grid”.

“The Albanese Government notes the resignation today of SnowyHydro CEO Paul Broad after almost 10 years of service,and thanks him for his work in the energy market over that period.”

Broad was appointed when Labor was last in power in July 2013 and had led the Snowy Hydro project during the Coalition government.

The spokeswoman did not answer questions about whether Broad’s exit was linked to the Kurri Kurri project.

Broad was approached through Snowy Hydro for comment on whether he had disagreed with Bowen on Kurri Kurri,whether the pair had argued over the cost blow outs to SnowyHyrdo,whether he had been blamed for the leak and whether he had been forced to resign,but he did not respond before deadline.

On August 10,Bowen was asked whether the extra $700 million in equity for the Kurri Kurri project would be enough to meet the 30 per cent target and said “Yes. And we’re working very closely with Snowy as you’d expect to implement our election commitments”.

Bruce Mountain,the director of the Victoria Energy Policy Centre,said that Broad “took great pride in claiming that Snowy 2.0 was his legacy”.

“It is essential that the government commissions an independent inquiry to get to the bottom of this mess.”

The $5.1 billion pumped hydro scheme may not be ready to generate power until as late as 2028,according to reports on the latest delays to the project.

Cut through the noise of federal politics with news, views and expert analysis from Jacqueline Maley.Subscribers can sign up to our weekly Inside Politics newsletter here.

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