Minister for Employment and Small Business, Di Farmer, and Assistant Minister for Hydrogen Development, Lance McCallum are visiting the Kidston pumped storage hydrogen project which is set to play a key role in delivering jobs for Far North Queensland, while creating renewable energy.
Minister Farmer said the Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan sets the foundation for the success of the Genex Kidston Hydro Storage Project, creating approximately 900 jobs and helping power new jobs in North Queensland’s regional industries.
“The Kidston Pumped Hydro Storage Project is building a 250-megawatt pumped storage hydroelectric power generation facility that will use the old Kidston Gold Mine’s upper and lower pits,” Minister Farmer said.
“The project has been made possible through the Queensland Government’s investment of $147 million in transmission infrastructure to connect the project to a 186-kilometre transmission line from Kidston to Mount Fox near Ingham, creating 400 jobs.
“The construction of the pumped hydro project will create a further 500 jobs so this is a very exciting project for the region and it’s was exciting to be on-site today.
“This will also be an important step in the roll out of large-scale energy storage capability to enable more renewable energy to come into the national electricity market.
“This Kidston Project is one of many renewable energy projects underway in Queensland that will support the state’s transition to a low carbon economy.
“To make the most of opportunities like the Kidston Hydro Project, we need to ensure Queensland has the right workers in the right places to take advantage of these opportunities and we have plans in place to make that happen,” she said.