Australia’s oldest coal plant closed | GP

This action is symbolic of one of the world’s major powers in highly polluting coal energy.

“The world is changing and so is AGL,” said Damien Nix, CEO of energy giant AGL, in a statement regarding the shutdown of the last turbine on Friday.

Liddell opened in 1971, about 25 miles north of the country’s largest city, Sydney. It has been a major contributor to AGL being Australia’s worst polluter. It is estimated that the shutdown means that emissions from the Australian energy sector will drop by 5 per cent.

Despite its filth, coal is a treasured traditional food in Australia, as well as an important export product. This was the focus of last year’s election campaign, especially since well-known billionaire Mike Cannon-Brooks tried to buy AGL in the same context to reorient the company towards solar and wind power.

The takeover attempt failed, but still had the intended effect – subsequently a significant part of the company’s management resigned, and the new directors promised to phase out coal faster.

The demolition of Liddell is expected to take at least two years. 90 percent of the materials will be recycled, including 70,000 tons of steel. And then the area will be used for renewable energy, including a giant battery with a maximum capacity of 500 megawatts.