Concerns surrounding Hazelwood power station’s possible closure have been put to the State Opposition by the corporate general manger of a Morwell-based engineering business.
Stephen Hardy met with Member for Morwell Russell Northe and Opposition spokesperson for energy and resources David Southwick on Friday to discuss the impact Hazelwood’s closure would have on his business.
Mr Hardy said Hazelwood power station and owner Engie was one of his company’s largest customers, not only in the Valley but nationally.
He said the loss of their business due to closure would have a significant roll-on effect.
“Engie makes up 30 per cent of our business and if you work the sums, losing them as a customer… we would be looking at 30 per cent staff cuts in this operation alone,” he said.
“I’m very concerned for the Valley and the people in the Valley.
“The Valley was built on power generation going back to the ’40s and ’50s, and that’s what we do and we do it very well – supply the cheapest power in the country.”
The politicians shared Mr Hardy’s concerns.
Mr Northe said they were concerned not only for jobs at the power station, but also a number of businesses in the region which relied on the power plant for business.
They also raised concerns of increased energy costs.
