A power company has won a contract to help build Australia's biggest power station.

PB Power, based in Newcastle, was appointed consultant for the Kogan Creek power station, which will be built in Queensland.

The 750-megawatt coal-fired power station will enter commercial operation in August 2007.

PB Power will be responsible for the review of the design and on-site construction, testing and commissioning.

The company, which won a US government contract earlier this year to help restore Iraq's electricity supply, employs more than 200 staff at its headquarters at Newcastle Business Park.

PB managing director for the Asia-Pacific region Stuart Wallace said: "This is a fantastic win that puts us firmly in the forefront of coal-fired work in the region."

Mr Wallace said the new power station was particularly important in the context of Australia's recently announced energy policy, which gives equal emphasis to coal and renewable energy sources.

The station, to be built in a coalfield west of Brisbane, will use environmentally friendly air-cooled condensers.

The cost of the power station and associated infrastructure is an estimated US$857m.

PB Power was awarded a US$43m contract in May to work on the reconstruction of Iraq's electricity grid, which was badly damaged during the recent war.

PB is part of international engineering company Parsons Brinckerhoff Limited. The company employs 9,000 staff worldwide and has its headquarters in New York.

Published: 14/09/2004