ID :
11334
Wed, 07/02/2008 - 20:18
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/11334
The shortlink copeid
Industries disappointed over gas crisis
Canberra, July 2 (AAP) - Wood processing manufacturers hit hard by Western Australia's gas crisis have criticised what they say is a lack of public information available on energy use and consumption.
The explosion at Apache Energy's Varanus Island facility on June 3 is expected to have a major economic impact on the WA and national economies, with hundreds of jobs already lost.
Wesbeam at Neerabup, 33km north of Perth, put off a dozen casual contractors after the explosion and is trying to keep full-time workers engaged while the crisis continues.
"Every consumer of gas has a meter ... all the information is there, it's not complex, it's not rocket science, it's just arithmetic," chief executive officer James Malone said. "I'm a little bit surprised about the relative dearth of numeric information when
that information is not unavailable," he said.
Another wood processing plant at Dardanup, 160km south of Perth, dismissed 21 of the company's 200 staff this week.
Managing director Ron Adams, who is receiving 15 hours' notice of available gas supply to his business, said he did not know how putting additional coal-fired power stations on-line would translate to his situation. "I find it extremely difficult in a business sense to understand ... some of the information," Mr Adams said. "Trying to get hold of good reliable information has been very (difficult)," he said.
The West Australian government's Office of Energy (OOE) has refused to provide figures on current electricity consumption "for practical reasons and matters of commercial confidentiality".
A facts sheet issued by OOE on June 25 includes a four paragraph disclaimer.
"The State of Western Australia, the Minister for Energy, the Coordinator of Energy, the Office of Energy and their respective officers, employees and agents do not make any representation as to the accuracy of the information contained in this document," it states.
Energy Minister Fran Logan said the government did not resile from the disclaimer. "That's commercial information that they (the Office of Energy) have provided ...governments won't put that information out without disclaimers."
A spokesman for private gas supplier Alinta said they were in constant communication with companies affected by the crisis.
He said project managers were talking to industry on a regular basis.
"At this time we can only allocate on a daily basis, but we are working hard to provide businesses most affected with as much information as is available so they can plan in advance," the spokesman said.
The explosion at Apache Energy's Varanus Island facility on June 3 is expected to have a major economic impact on the WA and national economies, with hundreds of jobs already lost.
Wesbeam at Neerabup, 33km north of Perth, put off a dozen casual contractors after the explosion and is trying to keep full-time workers engaged while the crisis continues.
"Every consumer of gas has a meter ... all the information is there, it's not complex, it's not rocket science, it's just arithmetic," chief executive officer James Malone said. "I'm a little bit surprised about the relative dearth of numeric information when
that information is not unavailable," he said.
Another wood processing plant at Dardanup, 160km south of Perth, dismissed 21 of the company's 200 staff this week.
Managing director Ron Adams, who is receiving 15 hours' notice of available gas supply to his business, said he did not know how putting additional coal-fired power stations on-line would translate to his situation. "I find it extremely difficult in a business sense to understand ... some of the information," Mr Adams said. "Trying to get hold of good reliable information has been very (difficult)," he said.
The West Australian government's Office of Energy (OOE) has refused to provide figures on current electricity consumption "for practical reasons and matters of commercial confidentiality".
A facts sheet issued by OOE on June 25 includes a four paragraph disclaimer.
"The State of Western Australia, the Minister for Energy, the Coordinator of Energy, the Office of Energy and their respective officers, employees and agents do not make any representation as to the accuracy of the information contained in this document," it states.
Energy Minister Fran Logan said the government did not resile from the disclaimer. "That's commercial information that they (the Office of Energy) have provided ...governments won't put that information out without disclaimers."
A spokesman for private gas supplier Alinta said they were in constant communication with companies affected by the crisis.
He said project managers were talking to industry on a regular basis.
"At this time we can only allocate on a daily basis, but we are working hard to provide businesses most affected with as much information as is available so they can plan in advance," the spokesman said.
