Power station lying idle

By CHRIS DANIELS and NZPA

New Plymouth power station, just converted by its owner Contact Energy into a dual-fuel plant, is lying idle as its owners and Taranaki local authorities negotiate over the discharge of fumes from its chimney.

Contact Energy has finished a $10 million upgrade of the 450 megawatt, natural gas-fired station that allows it to also run on fuel oil.

This upgrade was prompted by the looming shortage of natural gas as the giant Maui field runs out.

Company spokesman Pattrick Smellie said Contact would like to have test-fired the station on oil by now, but was still negotiating over what restrictions would apply to its operations in certain weather.

The station has not generated any power since May 21 because Contact is reluctant to use any of its remaining Maui gas entitlement unless it really needs to.

Contact had the right to fire up the station using oil in the event of emergency - such as the southern hydro lakes running low.

Regional council consents manager Peter Canvin confirmed that submissions on Contact's consent application all expressed health concerns.

Taranaki's Health Protection Unit said its main worry was the sulphur content of the discharge.