WE MUST FORGET MARINUS

Friday’s editorial (July 1) makes, I believe, a very valid point re the proposed Marinus link: The nation’s smallest state should not be paying for a project that will benefit mostly mainlanders.

However, I do question the statement: It’s something that has to happen and be supported.

An economic analysis by FTI for TasNetworks published in 2020 concluded, based on the modelling of scenarios, that Tasmania would receive 6 per cent of the benefits from Marinus, amounting to half of one cent per kWh lower power prices (if the retailers were to pass on savings to consumers).

However, this modelling assumed that power generators would play fair and not manipulate the market.

This is clearly not happening, with spot prices of more than $400 per kWh a regular occurrence, the regulator having to step in with controls and wholesale prices soaring. Tasmania and Tasmanians are suffering and would receive no benefits from Marinus because our wholesale electricity price is legislatively linked to the Victorian price.

We are already paying a penalty for Hydro/TasNetworks/Aurora and our government wanting Marinus.

For the sake of Tasmanians, we need to exit the National Energy Market and forget Marinus.

We should use our renewable energy to create jobs and wealth here, not to reduce the energy price for mainland energy consumers.

Use wind and solar, backed by hydro, to create the cheapest and most reliable energy delivery in Australia. Make green hydrogen and oxygen. Make green ammonia to replace diesel. Make green urea for our farmers.

Let the mainland buy giant batteries instead of Marinus. Let them pay more for their electricity, not us. We have a competitive advantage. Why sell out?

C Narkowicz Bellerive