The Energy Minister says companies prematurely closing coal-fired power stations are doing the wrong thing by Australians.

The Australia Energy Market Operator (AEMO) has released its first blueprint for Australia’s future energy infrastructure needs.

It stresses coal-fired power stations must be kept running as long as possible to drive down power prices.

AGL has refused to sell the Liddell Power Station in the Hunter Region and plans to close it within four years.

Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg tells Ross Greenwood that’s reckless.

“We called on AGL and its board to look very carefully and consider properly the bid for the asset from Alinta.

“We know that Alinta saw a future in Liddell beyond 2022, we know the head of the ACCC said that if another competitor came into the market, prices would go down.

“We all know that AEMO has forecast a shortfall in dispatchable power should Liddell close in 2022.”

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