Queensland’s CS Energy has released the report into the major operational safety event that occurred at Unit C3 at Callide C Power Station on April 4, 2025.
The report sets out the key findings of the investigation, which included an internal root cause analysis and an independent external investigation, and CS Energy’s action plan.
Related article: CS Energy begins $80 million overhaul of Callide Unit C3
The report reveals that progress in embedding process safety across the organisation has been inadequate. It also identifies several long-standing unresolved issues, including ineffective clinker management, inherent design flaws in the control system logic that delayed the shutdown of the unit, inadequate risk control, poor planning and governance, operator shortages and gaps in operator training.
CS Energy CEO Brian Gillespie said, “The CS Energy Board has now taken decisive action following the incident, initiating an organisational transformation, with a focus on safety leadership, clearer governance, and improved risk management.
“The findings released today have informed our ongoing work to build a safer, better CS Energy.”
Gillespie said with a refreshed board and management in place, CS Energy had already completed a number of targeted actions in response to these findings and had established a prioritised program of further initiatives to drive lasting improvements.
“CS Energy worked closely with Workplace Health and Safety Queensland to meet their requirements for the continued operation of Unit C4 and the safe return to service of Unit C3.
Related article: Clinker incident takes out Callide Unit C3 in Queensland
“All technical root causes (clinker management, boiler protection systems, combustion systems and coal quality) have been rectified. Specifically, the timing delays that were built into flame scanner control logic have been removed. The approximate cost of the repairs was $5.4 million.
“The CS Energy leadership team acknowledges that what happened on Unit C3 was not good enough. We have a new leadership team who is listening and acting. There is no finish line to creating a great safety culture and we are committed to being among the best in the world when it comes to safety.”
