A major safety incident at Victoria’s Yallourn coal-fired power station has intensified scrutiny over the condition and maintenance of the state’s aging coal plants.
Over the weekend, a large air duct collapsed onto the floor of the facility in an area routinely accessed by plant operators.
Fortunately, no injuries were reported, but the incident has prompted urgent calls for improved safety standards as coal stations approach the end of their operational lives.
EnergyAustralia, which operates Yallourn, confirmed that the air duct on Unit 3 “detached from the boiler end and fell to the basement floor” during scheduled maintenance in the early hours of Sunday morning.
The unit was offline for maintenance at the time.
WorkSafe was immediately notified, and an EnergyAustralia spokesperson stated: “We are taking this matter extremely seriously. EnergyAustralia’s priority is to ensure our people continue to remain safe.”
The company has launched an investigation into the incident to assess the integrity of similar equipment across the power station.
The affected unit is expected to remain out of service for at least two weeks, further straining Victoria’s power grid as winter demand increases.
The Mining and Energy Union has voiced deep concern about the risks faced by workers at aging coal plants like Yallourn.
Victorian District President Ned Bukarica said: “Luck should never be factored into safety, but luck is the only reason that no one was injured or killed at Yallourn over the weekend.
“Workers have had very serious worries about the safety of the plant and equipment at Yallourn for quite some time. Following this weekend, those fears have unfortunately been justified.”
Bukarica added: “For as long as coal plays a role in underpinning Victoria’s energy security, private operators must be required to undertake necessary upkeep to ensure worker safety.
“It is unconscionable that the plant has reached the stage where it’s literally collapsing around workers while they perform their duties.
“The owners of our power stations must make necessary investments into maintenance and upkeep, regardless of if the plant is reaching its end-of-life.”
Yallourn, one of Australia’s oldest and most emissions-intensive coal plants, is scheduled to retire in 2028.
The incident has reignited debate about the safety and viability of extending the life of aging coal infrastructure as the state transitions to cleaner energy sources.
