- A planned maintenance overhaul of Stanwell Power Station’s Unit 3 is underway to ensure Stanwell continues to deliver reliable, affordable and sustainable electricity for Queensland.
- The Crisafulli Government is delivering on its commitment to the Electricity Maintenance Guarantee to invest in the energy assets Queensland has, while building for the future.
- The former Labor Government failed to maintain Queensland’s energy assets, which resulted in the Callide explosion in 2021, and caused widespread blackouts and contributed to a 19.9 per cent increase in electricity prices for Queenslanders.
- The Crisafulli Government is delivering a better lifestyle through a stronger economy after the former Labor Government’s decade of decline.
The Crisafulli Government is delivering affordable, reliable and sustainable power for Queenslanders with the overhaul of Stanwell Power Station’s Unit 3 to drive productivity and dependability of the State’s power generators.
As part of the Crisafulli Government’s Electricity Maintenance Guarantee, the station’s Unit 3 is currently undergoing a $70.5 million overhaul to inspect, repair and upgrade the 365-megawatt generating unit.
While Unit 3 is offline until July, Units 1, 2 and 4 will continue generating, ensuring Queensland’s electricity supply remains secure.
Unlike Labor, the Crisafulli Government has committed $1.6 billion to the Electricity Maintenance Guarantee to ensure more reliable energy generation and put downward pressure on power prices, by helping prevent disasters like the Callide explosion in 2021 under the former Labor Government.
The Callide C failure – which left unit C4 offline for more than 1100 days – caused widespread blackouts and contributed to Queensland’s 19.9 per cent electricity price hike, an increase three times the national average back in 2023.
Treasurer, Minister for Energy and Minister for Home Ownership David Janetzki said Queenslanders deserve a stable and affordable energy system, and that starts with maintaining existing assets.
“This overhaul at Stanwell Power Station is a clear example of our commitment to keeping generation online, reliable and performing when it is needed most,” Treasurer Janetzki said.
“Our Energy Roadmap is our clear commitment that the Crisafulli Government will invest in what we have, while we build what we need for the future.
“Our approach is already delivering with the Queensland Competition Authority determining energy prices will come down from 1 July, with households in regional Queensland to see a 6.9 per cent decrease in power bills and 8.1 per cent for small businesses.”
Stanwell General Manager Central Generation Angie Zahra said the overhaul is a disciplined, long-term investment in the performance and reliability of one of Queensland’s most important generation assets.
“This overhaul strengthens safety, performance and long‑term reliability and ensures we continue to deliver the energy Queenslanders rely on every day,” Ms Zahra said.
“An additional 400 specialist tradespeople, technical experts, maintenance crews and support staff will join Stanwell’s workforce during the overhaul, increasing demand for local hospitality, retail and services, providing flow‑on benefits to the community.
“This work will deliver an estimated $10 million economic boost to the Rockhampton region through increased local spending, accommodation demand and engagement of local suppliers.
“Stanwell Power Station is recognised as one of the most reliable and efficient coal‑fired power stations in the National Electricity Market, alongside the Tarong power stations. Together, they produce more than one‑third of Queensland’s electricity needs, and this overhaul will ensure that continues.”
