Senior ministers at odds over readiness of new coal-fired power stations

Matt Canavan says new station could be built within three years but Josh Frydenberg says any 'clean coal' initiative is 'a long way off'

Senior Turnbull government ministers are publicly at odds over the timing of new investment in coal-fired power - with the resources minister suggesting Asian and domestic investors "are very interested" and could build a plant within three years, and the energy minister arguing any investment would be "a long way off."

The resources minister, Matt Canavan, told 2GB on Monday that proponents of "clean" coal-fired power had told him a new power station could be operational in Australia within three years.