Federal government announces major upgrade to Snowy hydro scheme

The federal government has announced it will spend billions of dollars on a major upgrade to the Snowy Mountains Hydroelectric Scheme, as part of its ongoing bid to stave off a national electricity shortage.

Internal view of the Tumut 3 power station at the Snowy Hydro Scheme in Talbingo (AAP) Source: AAP

The Snowy Hydro Scheme is considered one of Australia's greatest engineering achievements.

With 16 dams, nine power stations and more than 100 kilometres of tunnels, it took more than 20 years to build.

Now, the Turnbull government wants to increase the Snowy Hydro's output by 50 per cent in just four years.

The project is meant to cost $2 billion dollars.

It's by far the government's most expensive intervention to date, in its ongoing effort to ward off a predicted electricity shortage.

The upgrade aims to provide power for half a million more homes.

 

But the announcement of upgrading Snowy Hydro Scheme has provoked a further widening of the rift between the Commonwealth and the South Australian government - with both sides attacking each other over their handling of the energy crisis.

 

SBS Korean program has more.