Thread by @RichieMerzian, NEW - Morrison will 'fire the recovery' with fossil gas Expect new [...]

NEW - Morrison will 'fire the recovery' with fossil gas

Expect new gas hub, new pipeline, gas plants, gas research & 'voluntary industry-led code of conduct'

Ensuring efforts to recover from Covid crisis exacerbates the climate crisis

Thread #auspol https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/morrison-to-back-construction-of-new-gas-fired-power-station-20200914-p55vks.html

Morrison to back construction of new gas-fired power station

The government will open up new gas supplies and back the construction of a gas-fired power station in a mammoth new plan that aims to prevent an energy price spike.

https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/morrison-to-back-construction-of-new-gas-fired-power-station-20200914-p55vks.html

Creation of an ‘Australian Gas Hub’ is eerily familiar to what Covid-19 Commission adviser, Saudi Aramco Board Member Andrew Liveris wants by importing the US gas boom (and bust) approach

Andrew 'tingles with pride' over Trump Liveris #auspol

“Unlocking five key gas basins” will be disastrous for Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions

Just two biggest Basins, along with existing pipeline of 22 major gas projects would almost equal Australia's total gas production

See @TheAusInstitute report
https://www.tai.org.au/sites/default/files/Weapons%20of%20Gas%20Destruction%20%5BWEB%5D.pdf

“New agreements with the three east coast LNG exporters” is too little too late.

The exporters have helped triple gas supply in the last decade and yet Australians pay more for their gas.

And a 'voluntary industry-led code of conduct' lulz

Background https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-03-09/gas-prices-will-rise-and-there-is-not-much-we-can-do-to-stop-it/8340536

Gas prices will rise and there's not much we can do to stop it

The steep rise in Australia's gas prices became inevitable once approval was granted for 10 giant LNG plants that lock the nation in to a competitive global market, writes Michael Janda.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-03-09/gas-prices-will-rise-and-there-is-not-much-we-can-do-to-stop-it/8340536

New money for "CSIRO's GISERA" sounds nice till you realise its compromised by its model

An alliance of fracking companies Santos, Origin Energy, Shell, China National Offshore Oil Corporation and Tokyo Gas

The most recent report from GISERA

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-07-15/csiro-fracking-research-does-not-pass-pub-test-expert-says/12454942

Examining six fracked wells out of 19,000 'doesn't pass the pub test', expert says

The CSIRO is accused of having a conflict of interest after releasing a report on coal seam gas that says fracking has little-to-no impact on the environment, while critics also question the sample...

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-07-15/csiro-fracking-research-does-not-pass-pub-test-expert-says/12454942

Call for new gas pipelines, what Nev Power and Liveris were proposing in the Covid Commision.

But according to head of gas pipeline company APA:

“It is a throwaway thing to say we need more pipelines....The lack of pipelines is not the constraint.” https://www.afr.com/companies/energy/apa-boss-takes-apart-liveris-pipe-dreams-20190527-p51rmx

APA boss takes apart Liveris' pipe dreams

Mick McCormack says the retired Dow Chemical man's pipe dreams and myth-making will not solve the east coast energy crisis.

https://www.afr.com/companies/energy/apa-boss-takes-apart-liveris-pipe-dreams-20190527-p51rmx

Gas the job creator?

Not if you actually want to effectively create jobs.
It employs 0.2% of workforce.

Its the worst sector to invest in for job-creation cause its so capital intensive

See @TheAusInstitute @Tom_Swann @MarkOgge report https://www.tai.org.au/sites/default/files/P908%20Gas-fired%20backfire%20%5Bweb%5D.pdf

Now @AngusTaylorMP long-awaited Liddell Taskforce, which threatened to keep Liddell open, is now threatening to build its own gas plant if the private sector doesn’t jump to it

After delaying the transition it is now chastising everyone for waiting!!! https://reneweconomy.com.au/angus-taylors-liddell-taskforce-slammed-as-guise-for-propping-up-coal-69572/

Angus Taylor’s Liddell taskforce slammed as guise for propping up coal

Federal and NSW Governments establish taskforce to examine options for Liddell closure that’s set to reignite pro-coal push.

https://reneweconomy.com.au/angus-taylors-liddell-taskforce-slammed-as-guise-for-propping-up-coal-69572/

AGL announced closure in 2017 with plan to replace with cleaner power generation

Doubtful as always, gov requested @AEMO_Media investigate.

Result - "AGL’s plan would deliver sufficient dispatchable resources to fill the identified 850 MW resource gap"
https://www.aemo.com.au/-/media/Files/Media_Centre/2018/Liddell-Advice_Final_.pdf

So why gas and why now?

Well coal for the Kurri Kurri site not popular with Taylor (see https://www.abc.net.au/radio/ballarat/programs/breakfast/angus-taylor/10878410)

He needs to justify more domestic demand for fossil gas, so in comes gov's Snowy Hydro to build CC gas plant

Thoughts @simonahac @KetanJ0 @dylanjmcconnell ?

"We don't have a stance" says Federal Energy Minister on new coal stations

Angus Taylor says proposed new coal fire stations in NSW are a state issue for now, with any Federal approval a long way off.

https://www.abc.net.au/radio/ballarat/programs/breakfast/angus-taylor/10878410

Do we even more gas plants?

"There is no strong case for more gas generation in the NEM given the current 4.4 GW of combined cycle and 7.0 GW of open cycle (peaking) gas generators are used well below their capacity factors" - @HughSaddler

@adamlmorton https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/mar/08/expensive-and-underperforming-energy-audit-finds-gas-power-running-well-below-capacity

'Expensive and underperforming': energy audit finds gas power running well below capacity

Report challenges justification for government underwriting of up to five new gas-fired generators

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/mar/08/expensive-and-underperforming-energy-audit-finds-gas-power-running-well-below-capacity

Overnight BP's influential energy outlook came out

Gas outlook does not pay a transitional role under a net-zero by 2050 approach to climate change and only goes up if you ignore taking climate action.

HT @ntsafos
https://www.bp.com/en/global/corporate/energy-economics/energy-outlook.html

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