"Dirtiest" power plant in Oz to shut down

Hazelwood Power Station gave in to pressure from environmentalists and will leave 500 people jobless.

French energy giant Engie made it to the headlines as it decided to shut down Australia's "dirtiest" power station come March 2017. Hazelwood currently provides almost 22% of the state's energy requirements.

The plant was deemed economically unfit to continue operations despite it being a "wonderful contributor" to the National Electricity Market according to a statement from Alex Keisser, Engie's chief executive. The Australian Broadcastaing Corporation further revealed from Keisser's statements that the level of investment that the plant requires to re-establish its operations "cannot be justified."

Engie owns 72% of Hazelwood, while Japanese trading house Mitsui owns 28%. 500 jobs will be lost once Hazelwood starts closure next year.