The cost of the 2021 Callide Power Station explosion in Queensland has been revealed, placing a significant financial burden on taxpayers. 

The incident, which left around 500,000 homes and businesses without power, has resulted in a cumulative expenditure nearing $50 million, according to a recently released report.

An electrical fault at the CS Energy-owned Callide Power Station triggered a catastrophic explosion, causing extensive damage and contributing to an increase in energy prices across the state. 

In the aftermath, CS Energy has been criticised for the high costs incurred, including a $10.4 million bill for the Brady Report alone, which investigated the disaster's root causes.

The financial breakdown further highlights $38 million spent on external fees, including legal expenses aimed at preventing some of the report's findings from being disclosed. 

This spending has drawn scrutiny, particularly given the context of ongoing safety and maintenance issues at the plant.

Adding to the controversy, it was revealed during a recent Budget Estimates meeting that CS Energy executives received over $300,000 in bonuses during the 2022-23 financial year. 

Queensland Energy Minister Mick de Brenni, when questioned about the bonuses, expressed dissatisfaction with the company's leadership. 

However, he deflected responsibility, saying; “The remuneration of government-owned corporation staff is entirely a matter for the board”.

CS Energy’s new chief executive, Darren Busine, has apologised for the incident, acknowledging the company's failure to maintain high standards. 

“We've expressed our apologies for the incident and not maintaining the world-class standards,” he said.

The Brady Heywood Report, led by forensic engineer Dr Sean Brady, identified a failure to implement “effective process safety practices” at the facility. 

The explosion at Callide C unit not only caused substantial physical damage but also destabilised the power grid, leading to a cascading failure that impacted nine major generator units across Queensland.

Despite these findings, questions remain about the timely communication of maintenance issues. 

CS Energy received a draft report on the failures last December, but de Brenni did not receive his copy until last month. 

Premier Steven Miles announced that the Queensland Government plans to take steps towards achieving 100 per cent ownership of the Callide generators, aiming to streamline management structures and improve governance. 

He indicated that special advisors would be appointed to the board of the state-owned corporation to ensure better oversight.