Alinta Energy has brought forward its deadline to close its power stations in Port Augusta and coal mine at Leigh Creek.
The company announced last month it would close the power stations and mine at some point between next March and March 2018.
In a statement the company said the sites would not operate beyond March 2017 and an early closure date would not be before March 2016 "and only if circumstances warrant".
Alinta Energy chief executive Jeff Dimery said the company had updated workers and key stakeholders on the closure timeline.
"We are working collaboratively with Government and unions in developing a package of support services tailored to suit our employees' needs, in order to provide them the best opportunity to transition to new employment," he said.
"We continue to work through the many facets of the Flinders [power plant and mine] closure plan. Through the development of this plan we now have more certainty around Flinders operating future."
About 230 workers will lose their jobs when Alinta's Port Augusta power stations close and more will go when its operations at Leigh Creek wrap up.
The company briefed council on the narrower closure window this morning.
Port Augusta Mayor Sam Johnson has called for an urgent response from both state and federal governments.
South Australia's unemployment rate has risen to 8.2 per cent, the worst in the nation and the state's worst jobless figure for about 15 years. Take a look back at recent job losses.
"We need our state and federal governments to provide support for our region now," he said in a statement.
"We are not asking for any more than what was promised to the northern suburbs with the closure of Holden in 2017," Cr Johnson said.
"The closure of the power stations will affect not only Port Augusta but also Quorn, Wilmington and of course Leigh Creek.
"We are talking about a significant loss to the economies of all of these communities and we urgently need support.
Read more at: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-07-30/alinta-energy-brings-forward-closure-power-station/6661082
The company announced last month it would close the power stations and mine at some point between next March and March 2018.
In a statement the company said the sites would not operate beyond March 2017 and an early closure date would not be before March 2016 "and only if circumstances warrant".
Alinta Energy chief executive Jeff Dimery said the company had updated workers and key stakeholders on the closure timeline.
"We are working collaboratively with Government and unions in developing a package of support services tailored to suit our employees' needs, in order to provide them the best opportunity to transition to new employment," he said.
"We continue to work through the many facets of the Flinders [power plant and mine] closure plan. Through the development of this plan we now have more certainty around Flinders operating future."
About 230 workers will lose their jobs when Alinta's Port Augusta power stations close and more will go when its operations at Leigh Creek wrap up.
The company briefed council on the narrower closure window this morning.
Port Augusta Mayor Sam Johnson has called for an urgent response from both state and federal governments.
South Australia's unemployment rate has risen to 8.2 per cent, the worst in the nation and the state's worst jobless figure for about 15 years. Take a look back at recent job losses.
"We need our state and federal governments to provide support for our region now," he said in a statement.
"We are not asking for any more than what was promised to the northern suburbs with the closure of Holden in 2017," Cr Johnson said.
"The closure of the power stations will affect not only Port Augusta but also Quorn, Wilmington and of course Leigh Creek.
"We are talking about a significant loss to the economies of all of these communities and we urgently need support.
Read more at: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-07-30/alinta-energy-brings-forward-closure-power-station/6661082
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