Over the past week, Tasmania has benefitted from welcome rains and for the first time in seven months, water storages have increased. Water storages are now at 13 per cent, an increase of 0.2 per cent since last week. This is the first time storages have increased since the week to 14 September 2015.
This is not just because of recent rainfalls, this is because the Government’s Energy Supply Plan is working, which means we can maximise the benefits of inflows.
Storages are likely to remain above the projected low of approximately 12 per cent and because our Energy Supply Plan is taking pressure off the system, the storage level at Lake Gordon has increased by 0.3 per cent to 6.5 per cent and the storage level at Great Lake has also increased by 0.3 per cent and now sits at 10.9 per cent.
Forecasts suggest it is likely there will be additional rainfalls in catchment areas this week as well.
While it’s pleasing to see storages increase this past week, significant challenges in relation to energy are ongoing and that’s why the Government remains committed to continuing the implementation of the Energy Supply Plan.
The other significant development is the progress made installing three 25 MW dual fuel units at the decommissioned Bell Bay Power Station. The three units are on target to be fully installed later this week and will be online in mid-May.
Installation of additional diesel generation is progressing well and Hydro Tasmania expects to have 220 MW of additional generation online by mid-May. This additional capacity will be used optimally in combination with existing hydro, wind and gas generation.
On Saturday, the Trent unit at the Tamar Valley Power Station was shut down after an exhaust gas leak was identified.
The fault has been identified and Hydro Tasmania advises the Trent will return to service by the end of the week. The fault is unrelated to the works previously undertaken in Abu Dhabi.
Basslink has advised that the next phase of repairs to the interconnector will commence this week, subject to suitable weather conditions. Basslink continues to advise that the return to service date of the interconnector is mid-June.
Hydro Tasmania and the Government will continue to provide regular updates on the Energy Supply Plan. Tasmanians can be assured we will do everything necessary to maintain energy security and that the Plan is working.