8 December 2004
$9.6M Boost for Alice Springs Electricty Supply
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Dr Chris Burns MLA
Minister for Essential Services
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The upgrade of Alice Springs ’ electricity supply has been accelerated with the purchase of a new 12 megawatt gas turbine.
Power and Water, the Government-owned corporation, has awarded a $9.6 million contract to US company Solar Turbines International for the supply, delivery, installation and commissioning of the new generator.
Essential Services Minister Dr Chris Burns said the purchase was part of Power and Water’s infrastructure investment program.
“The corporation is upgrading the generation capacity in Alice Springs to meet the town’s growing demand for electricity,” Dr Burns said.
“This is the first phase of a five-year plan to address the increasing demand for electricity in Alice Springs, and to progressively retire ageing generators as new generators are installed.”
Electricity use during the summer months has increased noticeably in Alice Springs over the past two years, with the increased use of refrigerative air conditioners partly responsible.
The town’s current generation capacity is about 67MW.
The 12MW Titan 130 Mobile Power Unit is due to arrive in Darwin on 18 December and will be delivered to Alice Springs before Christmas.
Power and Water aims to have the Titan MPU providing electricity to the Alice Springs network by early February.
Engineering/construction of the fuel systems, high voltage electrical works, earthing and civil works is in progress with the support of NT-based contractors.
The installation of the new gas turbine comes six months ahead of schedule.
Earlier this year, Power and Water announced plans to install new generation capacity by the third quarter of 2005.