Regional review Australia

Australia

Profit from operations in Australia decreased 11% to £124 million (£140 million in 2005) primarily due to the expected reduction in achieved prices at Hazelwood and the sale of the 300 MW Valley Power peaking plant in August 2005.

As at 5 March 2007
Fuel / Type Gross
capacity power
MW
Net
capacity power
MW
Gross
capacity heat
(MWth)
Net
capacity heat
(MWth)
Assets in operation          
Canunda, South Australia Wind 46 46 - -
Pelican Point, South Australia Gas (CCGT) 485 485 - -
Synergen, South Australia Gas/distillate 360 360 - -
Hazelwood, Victoria Coal 1,653 1,500 - -
Loy Yang B, Victoria Coal 1,010 707 - -
Kwinana, Western Australia Gas (CCGT) 118 58 - -
Australia total in operation   3,654 3,156    
Other assets and investments        
EnergyAustralia, Victoria and South Australia(1) Electricity and gas retailer - - - -
SEA Gas pipeline, Victoria and South Australia 687 km gas pipeline from Victoria to South Australia - - - -

(1) EnergyAustralia (50% owned by International Power) services circa 415,000 electricity and gas retail accounts in Victoria and South Australia.

Low levels of hydro generation and a tightening reserve margin have contributed to an improvement in forward electricity prices in Victoria. In 2008 and 2009 base load prices have risen to over A$40/MWh. Expected output for 2007 is largely contracted and therefore International Power should benefit from these price increases from 2008.

  Achieved power price (A$/MWh) Load factor (%)
  2005 2006 2007
forecast
2005 2006 2007
forecast
Hazelwood 34 33 34 80 80 80

The retail partnership with EnergyAustralia in Victoria and South Australia continues to increase its customer base, with the number of power and gas accounts now at some 415,000, up from 175,000 on formation of the partnership in July 2005.

In October, Hazelwood was awarded an A$80 million grant by the federal and Victorian governments to develop innovative retrofit low emission technology to one of its 200 MW generating units. The project includes coal drying and turbine efficiency improvements and is targeting a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. The project also includes a pilot CO2 capture scheme which is expected to be operational by mid 2008.

Driven by steady demand growth, the reserve margin in Victoria and South Australia continues to tighten, and forward prices have risen. We will consider growth opportunities (greenfield and acquisitions) in our existing and other Australian markets (e.g. New South Wales and Western Australia) that meet our investment criteria.

  • Profit from operations reduced to £124 million from £140 million last year
  • Improved forward prices in Victoria and South Australia
  • Reserve margin continues to tighten
  Year ended
31 December 2006
£m
Year ended
31 December 2005
£m
Profit from operations 74 125
Exceptional items and specific IAS 39 mark to market movements - (profits)/losses 50 15
PFO (excluding exceptional items and specific IAS 39 mark to market movements) 124 140
Hazelwood, Victoria Victoria and South

Hazelwood, Victoria