First gas from Pohokura starts flowing

Natural gas has began flowing through the new Pohokura gas plant in Taranaki.

Pohokura is expected to help replace the rapidly depleting the Maui gas field, which provides 80 per cent of the country's gas.

Joint venture partners Shell, Todd and OMV said "first gas" and oil "condensate" flowed from three onshore wells through the production station at Motonui yesterday afternoon.

Production would not be at commercial levels for a while, Shell New Zealand's country chair Ajit Bansal said.

Commissioning of the station will continue over the coming weeks while a platform is installed for six offshore wells.

The wells will come on stream during the year.

- NZPA