The state government of Western Australia (WA) has withheld a previously agreed wave project grant payment to Carnegie Clean Energy following the resignation of long-standing chief executive Michael Ottaviano.
In a statement, the developer said WA regional development minister Alannah MacTiernan had issued the U-turn despite having already approved an A$2.625m first milestone disbursement for the 1.5MW Albany wave scheme.
“The board and management met with minister MacTiernan and staff late on 2 October, the parties exchanged information and views,” it said.
“The minister has taken the Carnegie payment under advisement and the company will be advised further within the week.”
MacTiernan told Australian media the decision by Ottiviano to step down after a decade in charge was a “material change” to the project.
The minister also said there had been a dispute about the interpretation of the A$2.625m payment as a part of a variation to first $5.25m project milestone.