Mohikinui River. Photo / Supplied
Meridian has pulled the plug on its proposed Mokihinui hydro project on the West Coast of the South Island.
The plan had been to build an 85 metre-high dam on the Mokihinui River north of Westport, creating a 14 kilometre-long lake.
It would have produced enough electricity to power up
to 51,000 households, and would have been the largest inundation of public conservation land since Manapouri.
Meridian Energy said today it would not proceed and had formally withdrawn from the Environment Court process.
Chief executive Mark Binns said the decision was difficult and followed a full review of the hydro scheme and the risks and uncertainties the project faced prior to becoming a reality.
