PLANT SHUTDOWNS – VICTORIA

Alcoa smelter’s future in the balance

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Original article by Matt Johnston
Herald Sun – Page: 5 : 30-Oct-20

The Australia Institute has released a report which warns that the closure of Alcoa’s Portland aluminium smelter would reduce GDP by $800m and result in the loss of 3,600 jobs. The report was commissioned by Ben Davis of the Australian Workers’ Union, who says the economic impact of the smelter’s closure would be "unprecedented". He adds that the smelter helps to stabilise the electricity grid during periods of peak usage during summer. Both the Victorian and federal government are holding talks with Alcoa about the plant’s future.

CORPORATES
ALCOA INCORPORATED, ALCOA OF AUSTRALIA LIMITED, THE AUSTRALIA INSTITUTE LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN WORKERS’ UNION-FEDERATION OF INDUSTRIAL, MANUFACTURING AND ENGINEERING EMPLOYEES

‘It’s sunk in’: Toyota’s Altona plant grinds to a halt

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Original article by Nick Toscano
The Age – Page: 21 : 4-Oct-17

The closure of Toyota’s car plant in Victoria will result in the loss of 2,600 direct jobs. However, government modelling shows that component suppliers will shed about 3,000 jobs as a result of Toyota’s decision to end local manufacturing. At least 16 suppliers expect to cease trading, while 25 intend to reduce their workforce. Dave Smith of the Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union notes that about 50 per cent of Ford workers have not secured full-time employment 12 months after Ford ceased local manufacturing. Holden’s plant in Adelaide will close later in the month.

CORPORATES
TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION AUSTRALIA LIMITED, FORD MOTOR COMPANY AUSTRALIA LIMITED, GM HOLDEN LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN MANUFACTURING WORKERS’ UNION, MITSUBISHI MOTORS AUSTRALIA LIMITED, VICTORIA. DEPT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, JOBS, TRANSPORT AND RESOURCES, VICTORIAN AUTOMOBILE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Energy bills soar in shift from coal power stations

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Original article by Kylar Loussikian
The Australian – Page: 1 : 4-Jan-17

Electricity companies are raising consumer prices by as much as 25 per cent. Red Energy explained that prices must be raised because of the higher wholesale cost of electricity and the renewable energy certificates. In Victoria, where the Hazelwood power station will be closed in March 2017, EnergyAustralia and AGL increased electricity tariffs by $A135 and $A132 on average respectively for 2017.

CORPORATES
ENERGYAUSTRALIA PTY LTD, AGL ENERGY LIMITED – ASX AGL, RED ENERGY PTY LTD, AUSTRALIAN ENERGY COUNCIL, SNOWY HYDRO LIMITED, MINERALS COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA, QUEENSLAND. COMPETITION AUTHORITY

No Hazelwood, no energy plan

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Original article by Jennifer Hewett
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 2 : 4-Nov-16

The closure of Hazelwood power station will have serious economic consequences for Victoria’s Latrobe Valley region as 750 workers will lose their jobs. Both state and Federal Governments have promised financial assistance, with the latter to provide $A43 million in aid. Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews insists that the decision of majority owner Engie to close Hazelwood has nothing to do with the state’s energy policy.

CORPORATES
ENGIE SA, AUSTRALIAN ENERGY COUNCIL, MINERALS COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA, VICTORIA. DEPT OF PREMIER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIAN PETROLEUM PRODUCTION AND EXPLORATION ASSOCIATION LIMITED

Hazelwood closure set to push up prices

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Original article by Mark Ludlow
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 4 : 26-Sep-16

France-based Engie could make a final decision on the mooted closure of Victoria’s Hazelwood coal-fired power station in October 2016. Some media reports have suggested that the power plant could be shut down in April 2017, but Energy Minister Lily D’Ambrosio says no decision has been made. Tony Wood of the Grattan Institute says the brown coal plant’s closure would result in higher electricity prices, while Federal Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg has questioned the need for states to have their own renewable energy targets.

CORPORATES
ENGIE SA, VICTORIA. DEPT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, JOBS, TRANSPORT AND RESOURCES, GRATTAN INSTITUTE, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF INDUSTRY, INNOVATION AND SCIENCE, COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENTS, AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL UNIVERSITY. CENTRE FOR CLIMATE ECONOMICS AND POLICY