The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has granted authorisation to allow Queensland power generators CS Energy, Callide Energy, InterGen and Callide Power Management (the applicants) to jointly renegotiate existing coal supply arrangements with Anglo Coal.
The arrangements relate to coal supplied to the Callide B and Callide C power stations in central Queensland by the nearby coal mine owned by Anglo Coal.
The ACCC previously granted authorisation to the applicants in 2006 to jointly negotiate with Anglo Coal for the purposes of a price review.
“The ACCC considers that joint negotiations are likely to result in a public benefit by reducing transaction costs. The ACCC also believes that joint negotiations are unlikely to result in any detriment,” ACCC Deputy Chair Dr Michael Schaper said.
Authorisation has been granted for ten years until 17 October 2023.
Authorisation provides immunity from court action for conduct that might otherwise raise concerns under the competition provisions of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010. Broadly, the ACCC may grant an authorisation when it is satisfied that the public benefit from the conduct outweighs any public detriment.