CS Energy has selected engineering company Monadelphous Group for an A$380m ($267.6m) contract to deliver the balance‑of‑plant scope for the 400 MW Brigalow Peaking Power Plant near Chinchilla in Queensland, Australia.

The works covered by the balance-of-plant contract include civil and mechanical construction, piping and the installation of gas turbines.

The gas-fired peaking plant will be built alongside CS Energy’s Kogan Creek Power Station.

It is designed to provide rapid-start electricity during peak periods, supporting the reliability of the Queensland power grid.

The plant is designed to be operational within five minutes and will have the capacity to deliver electricity to more than 150,000 homes at times of high demand.

The Brigalow Peaking Power Plant is due to be operational in early 2029, pending completion of final commissioning.

Set to feature 12 GE Vernova aeroderivative turbines, each with 33 MW of capacity, the plant will use natural gas supplied from Senex Energy’s Atlas development.

The fuel will reach the site via a proposed 21 km APA pipeline connecting to the Roma-to-Brisbane Pipeline.

CS Energy acting CEO Tony Bellas said: “Fast start gas peakers like Brigalow will play an important role in Queensland’s future because they can provide longer duration power, complementing shorter duration batteries and intermittent renewables.

“We are delighted to be working with Monadelphous, an experienced contractor in the Australian market with deep capability in energy and mining.”

Brigalow forms part of the Queensland Government’s Energy Roadmap, which includes investment in coal and gas generation to strengthen domestic energy security and meet Queensland’s power requirements.

Monadelphous managing director Zoran Bebic said: “We are pleased to be partnering with CS Energy on the Brigalow Peaking Power Plant, supporting reliable and flexible energy supply.

“Monadelphous has a proven track record in delivering large-scale energy construction projects and is proud to continue contributing to critical energy infrastructure across Australia.”

Separately, contractor CMC has wrapped up the initial enabling package, delivering site access roads and upgrading a nearby intersection. It is also set to commence bulk earthworks to form the main construction pad.

Once the bulk earthworks are complete, Monadelphous is expected to commence the balance‑of‑plant package, which is currently scheduled to start in the third quarter of 2026.

CS Energy is in the final stages of establishing a partnership with APA Group, with the former operating and maintaining the plant and owning 20%, while APA will hold an 80% stake and contract its share to CS Energy through a 25-year hedge offtake agreement.

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