Energy giant head visiting

Hobart Mercury
Thursday 1/2/2007 Page: 10

THE president of China's largest power-generation corporation is leading a high-powered delegation to Tasmania from today. China Datang Corporation president Zhai Ruoyu and nine others will spend three days touring and discussing Tasmania's renewable energy assets.

Energy Minister David Llewellyn said the CDT delegation's visit represented a great opportunity for Tasmania. "To put how important this visit is into perspective. CDT has a total controlled installed capacity of more than 50,000MW, which is more than Australia's entire generating capacity," Mr Llewellyn said.

Mr Llewellyn said CDT was active in developing renewable energy and had set up aggressive targets. which could only benefit Tasmania's energy businesses. "Roaring 40s already has a joint-venture arrangement with the Datang Jilin Resourceful Power Generation Company, a subsidiary of CDT, to build the Shuangliao Wind Farm, in the Jilin Province," he said.

"The wind farm is currently nearing completion, with 54 turbines out of 58 in total having been commissioned." Mr Llewellyn said projects such as the Shuangliao wind farm could just be the tip of the iceberg for Tasmania's involvement in China. "For wind energy alone, the CDT has plans to build 1700MW in renewable energy assets by 2010," he said.

"The potential of Roaring 40s to expand current activities with CDT is excellent, with negotiations under way for further joint-venture wind energy developments in China." The group's tour includes meetings with Hydro Tasmania and Roaring 40s and visits to the Gordon power station and Woolnorth wind farm.