Mt Piper Ash Placement Project

The existing Mt Piper Power Station, located near Lithgow in central western NSW,  has a generating capacity of approximately 1,400 MW.  Currently, approximately 10.1 million tonnes of ash has been placed in the present ash placement area, Storage Area No. 1.

Based on planned operations, the present ash placement area is expected
to reach capacity by around 2015.  This is well before the existing station reaches the end of its economic life. In anticipation of this need, approvals are being sought to store ash in new areas once the existing ash placement area reaches capacity.

Wherever possible, Mt Piper’s ash is sold for re-use, mainly in cement manufacture.  This accounts for 200,000 tonnes per annum or about 18% of the power station’s current annual production of ash.  Delta will continue to identify re-use opportunities for the ash generated by Mt Piper Power Station, throughout the life of the station.

In the absence of significant reuse alternatives, however, the only viable option is to identify and commission new areas to enable the continued placement and storage of ash. 

In September 2009, a Preliminary Environmental Assessment to support gaining approvals for new ash placement and storage areas was submitted to the Department of Planning. On 21 October the NSW Minister for Planning granted Major Project status and also authorised Delta to apply for approval of a Concept Plan for the project.   On 12 November the Dept of Planning issued its final Director General's Requirements for the Environmental Assessment. Noise and groundwater monitoring equipment for the Environmental Assessment are to be installed at the two Project Approval sites (Lamberts North and South) from 10 December 2009.

Other specialist studies for the Environmental Assessment are underway, including surface water management, ecological and visual impacts, and atmospheric emissions as well as heritage studies.  To view the Preliminary Environment Assessment, please click on the link below:

Mt Piper Power Station Ash Placement Project (2.7MB)

Community newsletter, Feb 2010