By NOEL MURPHY
Workers at Alcoa’s Anglesea power plant mine are furious the complex will close if it remains unsold by year’s end, according to their union.
Australian Workers Union state secretary Ben Davis said Alcoa had assured the 80 staff their jobs were safe, telling them the power plant was separate to a review that led to the closure of the Point Henry smelter at Geelong, costing 800 jobs.
“They’re all totally stumped, they didn’t see it coming at all,” Mr Davis told the Independent.
“For 18 months, Alcoa said it wasn’t part of the review and then out of left field they’re told it’s sale or closure.
“They’re angry and they’re worried about their future.”
The plant also faces closure calls from environmentalists.
The Doctors for the Environment Australia, fearful of public health risks it says are posed by plant emissions, are spearheading a push for closure.
“Compared to coal elsewhere, Anglesea coal has an extremely high sulphur content. When it is burned at Anglesea power station, high levels of sulphur dioxide are emitted,” Dr Eugenie Kayak, the group’s Victorian chair, said.
“Sulphur dioxide is a respiratory irritant with no safe level of exposure. It can trigger asthma attacks and worsen lung diseases like emphysema.”
Dr Kayak claimed the power station also released other harmful air pollution “known to contribute to heart disease, lung disease and lung cancer” and raised concerns about its proximity to a primary school, residential areas and the town centre.
Mr Davis said that green lobbyists wanted the power plant shut but “a goodly proportion of the Anglesea community hope it continues”.
The prospects of re-employment for plant workers would be grim if Alcoa did not find a buyer, he said.
Alcoa spokesperson said the Anglesea coal mine and power station had the “potential to operate as a stand-alone facility after the smelter closes”.
“No decision has been made to shut Anglesea if it cannot be sold,” she told the Independent.
“What we have said is that Alcoa believes the Anglesea power station is a viable asset and that is why it will be offered for sale.
“If a sale is not possible, we will evaluate options at that time, including possible closure. In open crew sessions, we did discuss the various options but no deadlines were set.”
