“Structural failure” takes Callide coal plant offline 18 months after dramatic explosion

The Callide coal-fired power station in central Queensland has gone completely offline following a series of malfunctions at the troubled plant, CS Energy has said.

CS Energy says a structural failure at a cooling plant sent a unit of Callide C offline on Monday, and then on Tuesday afternoon the Callide B2 unit tripped during scheduled testing.

In comments to ABC News, CS Energy chief Andrew Bills said the final operating unit, B1 also tripped on Friday morning, because a safety protection system detected a vibration on a heat pump.

“That’s kind of what I would consider normal operating practice, it’s just bad timing in terms of the other things that have occurred at Callide,” Bills said.

“To be in that position is incredibly disappointing,” he added. “It’s not good enough and we’re doing what we can to get that back online.”

Fresh blow to old coal

The incident lands a fresh blow for the coal plant, which was the scene of a rather dramatic explosion in May of last year that took out the C4 unit and cut power from nearly half a million customers through the state. C4 is still being repaired.

CS Energy says it hopes to start bringing C3 back into action, gradually, in the new year. C4 is due to come back online in April 2023.

The 1,520MW Callide power station has a permanent workforce of 226 people and is comprised of two plants, Callide B and C, each with two generating units – B1 and B2, C3 and C4.

Queensland mining and energy union president Shane Brunker said in a statement on Friday that the extent of the damage at the plant left workers fearing for their safety and the future operation of the 57-year-old facility.

“Workers have been alarmed to look up and see plumes of steam and dust, they are very concerned about what’s going on at Callide,” Brunker said.

Citing a CS Energy official, ABC reports that Powerlink and the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) say there is enough supply in the state’s system to manage demand until the B1 and B2 units are returned to service.

CS Energy, which is owned by the Queensland government, owns Callide C in a 50/50 joint venture with InterGen Australia.

CS Energy did not immediately respond to a request by RenewEconomy for further comment.