Collie’s Just Transition: Diversifying a coal economy
Western Australia's energy transition is moving forward. Part of this plan is retiring the State-owned coal power stations in Collie in a phased, managed approach by 2030.
Initiative progress
In Progress
Collie is transitioning away from coal into a more diversified and sustainable economy through the implementation of the Just Transition Plan. This is a globally recognised framework to help regions transition to low carbon economies.
Key Stats
Collie’s Just Transition is an investment in the future of the town’s most important asset – its people.
Timeline of Collie's Just Transition
• 2017 – WA Government establishes $20 million Collie Futures Fund.
• 2017 – Muja AB power station retired.
• 2018 – Just Transition Working Group established with Government, community, unions, and industry.
• 2019 – WA Government commits further $80 million to Collie’s transition.
• 2019 – Announcement of the staged retirement of Muja C power station by 2025.
• 2019 – WA Government’s Collie Delivery Unit established to assist the transition.
• 2020 – Collie’s Just Transition Plan released.
• 2022 – WA Government announced retirement of all State-owned coal fired power stations by 2030.
• 2022 – $547.4 million committed to Collie’s Just Transition, including $200 million toward the Collie Industrial Transition Fund.
• 2023 – WA Government announces more than $1 billion for a battery energy storage system in Collie.
• 2025 – Muja C power station to be retired.
• 2027 – Collie power station to be retired.
• 2029 – Closure of Collie’s remaining Muja D units.
• 2030 – Retirement of State-owned coal-fired power stations.
Collie has been powering WA for over 140 years through coal mining and coal-fired power stations. The town’s energy-sector employs over 1,250 workers and contractors.
What is a Just Transition Plan?
Just Transition is an internationally recognised framework to support impacted workers, communities, and the economy in the transition away from emissions-intensive industries such as coal.
This creates support for a sustainable future for communities like Collie. The long-term investment creates the foundations for the successful transition to renewable energy production.
How is this being done?
There are four focus areas of the Just Transition Plan, which include:
Maximising opportunities for affected workers
Identifying and growing their skills for new job opportunities, and supporting employers to support workers.
Diversifying the local economy
Attracting and facilitating new industry opportunities, strengthening the tourism industry and supporting local businesses.
Celebrating Collie’s history and promoting its future
Capturing and celebrating Collie’s proud history, and ensuring that the public perception of Collie reflects and supports a positive economic and social future.
Committing to a Just Transition
Ensuring continued engagement with the community and employers as well as providing ongoing Government support to the Just Transition Working Group.
Why is it important for WA to act now?
Moving away from a carbon intensive economy helps us reduce the impacts of climate change and achieve net zero emissions by 2050.
It has also become less economic over time to run coal-fired power stations compared to more sustainable and lower cost technologies such as wind and solar. By continuing to use coal-fired power stations, we would see Western Australians paying more for their power bills.
The renewable energy transition is on its way in WA, which not only benefits the environment but also provides new opportunities for workers to upskill in future energy sectors and secure sustainable, long term jobs.
The timeliness of Collie’s Just Transition initiatives ensures workers, and the Collie community are supported in the wider transition toward securing more affordable and sustainable energy for all Western Australians.
To find out more about the projects and plans in place for Collie, visit:
Collie Just TransitionOther initiatives
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