Meridian appoints Aust chief

Photo / Mark Mitchell

New Zealand government-owned Meridian Energy Ltd has appointed a chief executive to develop its business in Australia.

The state-owned enterprise named Ben Burge as the inaugural chief executive of its growing Australian operations.

Burge would be responsible for driving the company's growth in the Australian market at an exciting time for the renewables sector, said Meridian Energy Australia chairman Peter Lowe.

A progressively improving regulatory environment and increasing focus on renewable energy and energy efficiency created opportunities in Australia, said Burge.

"Meridian Energy Australia has a unique opportunity to be a leader in the Australian renewable energy sector. We already have operating assets in Australia as well as our commitment as a 50 per cent joint venture partner in Australia's largest wind farm at Macarthur.

"We expect to grow this significantly, supported by the commitment, environmental credentials and resources of our New Zealand parent company," Burge said.

Meridian is the largest state-owned electricity generator in New Zealand.

The company owns, operates and generates electricity from hydro stations on the Waitaki River in the South Island and at Lake Manapouri in Fiordland National Park and has wind farms.

- NZPA