The commissioning took place ahead of schedule, only 16 months after the project was first announced.

Constructed, owned and operated by ATCO Power, Karratha will supply electricity to residential and business consumers on the Pilbara North West Interconnected System under a 20-year contract with state-owned Horizon Power.

ATCO Power President Rick Brouwer said "High levels of activity in the resource development sector have contributed to the need for additional power in Western Australia. Adding generating capacity while at the same time being environmentally responsible, demonstrates ATCO's commitment to the region."

Currently comprising two 43 MW high-efficiency gas turbines, the power station can be expanded with the addition of a heat recovery steam generator that would generate additional electricity from waste heat.

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ATCO Power also operates a 180 MW cogeneration plant at Osborne in Adelaide and a 33 MW cogeneration plant at Bulwer Island in Brisbane.