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8 May 2008 Owen Springs Power Station UpdateThe tender for the Owen Springs Power Station will be awarded this month. The evaluation has been an in-depth process as the complex tender covers not only generators but the power station infrastructure, controls and switch gear and works needed to receive the natural gas to fuel the new power station. In addition, specified criteria included environmental factors such as the level of emissions the generators might produce and ongoing maintenance and repair arrangements over the expected lifespan of the plant. 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). The relocation of the Titan and Taurus form part of a separate tender that was advertised this week and closes in four weeks time. Gas supply to the site is expected to be connected by end of September this year. While the power station could run on diesel if the gas supply is delayed, this part of the project is on schedule. Also on schedule are the new 66kV power lines from Owen Springs Power Station which will run to the new Norris Bell Substation, before taking supply onto Alice Springs. Initially, these power lines will be connected at 22kV before becoming fully operational at 66kV.The machines are on track to be moved by October 2008. This can only take place when the demand for electricity is low, as the transfer and reconnection take a number of days to complete. The first turbine to be moved will be the 4MW Taurus and then the 10MW Titan. No delays are expected but if the deadline cannot be met, the next available opportunity will be in 2009 after the summer peak load period. The remaining units at Ron Goodin Power Station will stay in service with the Owen Springs Power Station. As new units are added to Owen Springs over the next decade (or more depending on demand growth), the remaining generating units at Ron Goodin will be progressively retired.
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