August 27, 2012
Cougar Energy has not ruled out re-opening the company’s controversial Underground Coal Gasification plant near Coolabunia if its legal actions against the State Government are successful.
The company is appealing to the Planning and Environment Court against the State Government decision to shut down the project in 2010.
Cougar has also issued a damages writ against the State Government and several DERM officials (see SBBiz, October 17, 2011).
Speaking to ABC News today, Cougar CEO and Managing Director Rob Neill said the company would “look again closely” at re-starting the plant.
However Mr Neill indicated the company may choose not to re-start the project for economic reasons even if it won its court actions.
“Times have changed and prices have changed and construction costs have changed,” Mr Neill said.
“So it would come down to the economic modelling again to decide whether we would move forward with that project but if we could get ourselves re-approved, I’d say we’d look at it again very closely.”
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