Hazelwood Power Station decommissioning finishes safely
Published by Nicholas Woodroof,
Editor
World Coal,
The decommissioning of the Hazelwood Power Station in Victoria, Australia, has finished safely and on time.
Project Director, Tony Innocenzi, said the fact there were only two minor first aid treatments since the project started 14 months ago was a credit to everyone involved.
“I congratulate our Station Director Wayne Buckley who headed the decommissioning project, our employees and our contractors who carried out was has been a mammoth task,” Innocenzi said.
“We committed to all this work being done safely which is why we used a systematic approach, ensuring the facility is left for potential demolition to be carried out in a safe and environmentally responsible manner.”
The decommissioning project was managed in two phases - Phase 1 starting the day after the Hazelwood Power Station and Mine closed on 1 April 2017 and Phase 2 starting in August 2017, finishing on 31 May 2018.
Phase 1 activities included the de-energising of major plant and equipment and then extensive cleaning and removal of oils and gases, to make everything safe. Much of this equipment, such as the boilers and crusher house, are huge structures.
An audit of all known and unknown asbestos locations was also undertaken during the decommissioning project. Phase 2 activities saw mechanical isolation of plant to remove all energy sources as well as disconnection of all electrical supplies within the Power Station.
The task of decommissioning was significant with some -
- 1.3 million litres of oil removed from site
- 1886 plant permits issued
- 392 decommissioned rooms within the power station buildings
- 198 safety walks completed
- 1500 cables cut and approximately 500 batteries removed as part of electrical deenergisation
Critical infrastructure, such as fire services equipment, remains in place and the site is monitored and patrolled by security services.
Innocenzi said the project would now move into a period of “awaiting demolition”. This will take some time and will include consultation with regulators around the final condition of the site and the tendering of contracts for work during the demolition stage.
Read the article online at: https://www.worldcoal.com/power/11062018/hazelwood-power-station-decommissioning-finishes-safely/
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