Tenders to build $57 million Owen Springs Power Station now closed
Tenders to build $57 million Owen Springs Power Station now closed
Late last year Power and Water Corporation advertised for tenders to construct the new Owen Springs Power Station, to be located at the Brewer Estate.
Tenders were to originally close in January however with many businesses closed for the Christmas period and following a revision to the tender specs, this was extended until February to allow prospective tenderers adequate time to prepare their documentation.
Key parts of the tender specifications centred on maximising efficiency of generators being offered, and submission of innovative proposals for the development.
The complex tender submissions cover not only the generators but the power station infrastructure, controls and switch gear, and works needed to receive the natural gas to fuel the new power station.
The tender submissions are now being evaluated against the specified criteria that include environmental factors such as the level of emissions the generators might produce, and ongoing maintenance and repair costs over the expected lifespan of the plant. The evaluation panel and probity process is expected to be completed by early April with the successful tender being awarded at the end of April.
While the scope of this tender also includes the preparation, connection points and switch gear for the Taurus and Titan gas turbines (currently at Ron Goodin Power Station), their relocation will form part of a separate tender scheduled at this stage to be advertised in early April. If there are any unforseen delays, and the Titan can not be moved by October 2008, then the next available opportunity is Autumn 09 after the summer peak load period.
Gas supply to the site is expected to be connected by end of September this year however the power station can run on diesel if the gas supply is delayed. The remaining units at Ron Goodin Power Station will remain in service in addition to the Owen Springs Power Station when it is commissioned. As new units are added to Owen Springs over the next decade, the remaining generating units at Ron Goodin will be progressively retired.