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In the early hours of this morning, the TRUenergy Yallourn coal mine experienced significant water leakage into one of the coal conveyor tunnels under the Morwell River diversion. This follows a period of heavy rain.
The water is leaking into the open cut and has stopped operations on three conveyors that transport coal to the Yallourn Power Station.
There have been no injuries and the Yallourn Power Station is operating at a reduced capacity.
The coal excavation area in the mine is not directly impacted by the water leakage and mine personnel are working to establish alternative means to supply coal to the power station.
They are also assessing ways to stop the leakage of water into the mine. Water levels in the diversion are expected to gradually decrease over the next 1-2 days.
The leakage of water into the conveyor tunnel was identified yesterday afternoon and as a safety precaution mine workers on site were taken out of the mine to be briefed on the situation. Restricted mining operations then proceeded with an exclusion zone established around the tunnel area.
TRUenergy Yallourn is working with all relevant authorities and has advised the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO).
The 1480MW Yallourn Power Station has four generating units. The power station is currently operating one unit with two units on standby and the fourth unit undergoing scheduled maintenance.