By NOEL MURPHY
Alcoa and AGL Energy have accused Surf Coast Air Action of misrepresenting them on the Alcoa Anglesea coal-mine power station.
They were responding to a group media release headlined ‘AGL rules out buying Anglesea power station’, claiming the company blamed “negative effects” on residents’ health and wellbeing for its lack of interest in the facility.
The group based the release on a letter from AGL Energy managing director Michael Fraser in response to a request for information on whether the company might buy the power station.
Mr Fraser’s letter said AGL was “mindful of effects on local communities from any investment decisions we make.
“Matters of the type raised in your letter would certainly be taken into account before we decided to make an investment,” he wrote.
“We would only commit to buying an asset if we were satisfied that it could be operated safely and reliably and without compromising the health and wellbeing of employees and local residents.”
AGL Energy and Alcoa said Surf Coast Air Action used the letter incorrectly.
AGL’s Kathryn Lamond said the media release was “misleading” because the company “didn’t give a reason”.
Alcoa’s Nichola Holgate said the group was wrong to cite “negative effects” on residents’ health and wellbeing for AGL’s lack of interest in buying the facility.
“In fact, no reason is given.
“The comments about only committing to buying an asset if they were satisfied that it could be operated safely and reliably and without compromising the health and wellbeing of employees and local residents are made in a general sense and are consistent with Alcoa’s views.”
Ms Holgate said the power station was “a very efficient and well-maintained facility” that underwent a major overhaul every four years, most recently in 2013.
“It’s one of the lowest greenhouse-gas-emitting coal-fired power stations in the state.
“We believe it may be an attractive asset for an organisation that wants to run it as a stand-alone facility.
“There has been general interest from prospective buyers and we’re working through the formal process of offering the facility for sale as quickly as possible.”
Australian Workers Union attacked the action group last week for undermining the livelihood of 80 workers at the power station.
