Stanwell has commenced a major overhaul at Tarong Power Station this week, as part of its comprehensive, year-round maintenance program that ensures the continued delivery of affordable, reliable and sustainable electricity for Queensland. 

Nearly $70 million is being invested to overhaul Tarong Power Station’s Unit 1 which will be carried out over the next few months. 

The project forms part of Stanwell’s wider Asset Maintenance Plan that will see more than $900 million invested in maintaining Stanwell’s assets over the next five years, in line with the Queensland Government’s Electricity Maintenance Guarantee. 

This is the second planned overhaul at the Tarong power stations this year and is due for completion in late November, in time to support the peak summer demand period. An overhaul at Tarong North Power Station was recently completed in August.  

Each overhaul injects around $10 million into the local community and creates hundreds of extra jobs bringing significant benefits to the regional economy. 

Stanwell CEO, Michael O’Rourke said it takes months of detailed planning and coordination to prepare for an overhaul. 

“Each unit at the Tarong power stations undergoes a major overhaul every four years to keep them running year-round. Typically, an overhaul involves inspections, maintenance, refurbishment and replacement of plant and equipment,” Mr O’Rourke said. 

“It will also create an extra 500 short-term specialised contractor roles on site, including electricians, boilermakers, riggers, fitters and welders, which in turn supports our local accommodation and hospitality providers. 

“We know that summer brings a natural increase in energy consumption as well as weather events that place further strain on the network. The maintenance we carry out during an overhaul ensures our power stations can continue to reliably meet these demands. 

“We take great pride in the fact that the Stanwell and Tarong power stations are two of the most reliable and efficient coal-fired power stations in the National Electricity Market, producing more than a third of Queensland’s electricity needs. 

“Overhauls are a massive undertaking, and I want to thank everyone involved in recently delivering the Tarong North overhaul and also to those about to deliver the Tarong Power Station overhaul of Unit 1.”

For more information, learn how power station overhauls work.