The State Government wants to re-start mothballed diesel-powered generators at Snuggery and Port Lincoln as it warns South Australia is at risk of blackouts this summer.


French company Engie turned off the peaking generators in July ahead of their full closure in 2028.


Transport, Energy and Infrastructure Minister Tom Koutsantonis has sought rule changes that would give the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) the power to compel companies such as Engie to bring mothballed generators back online to support the grid supply during periods of peak demand.


Minister Koutsantonis said there is a predicted shortfall of 200 megawatts for South Australia this summer.


The Opposition has claimed there has been a total lack of planning by the State Government.


“They have known these generators were withdrawing and mothballing back in February this year, and here we are the first week of summer and all of a sudden, the request has gone in to have these diesel generators to come back into the grid,” Shadow Energy Minister Stephen Patterson told ABC Radio.


“The rush to renewables is one of the reasons why these generators are having to go out of the market more quickly than they otherwise would.”


There are three diesel-powered turbines at the unmanned Snuggery power station.


The peak demand turbines have the capacity to generate 21MW each but private owner Engie said it was not a profitable operation.


The Snuggery power station was erected on the Princes Highway in 1978 by the state-owned Electricity Trust of South Australia.