Listen to The Country online: Ballance CEO Kelvin Wickham on gas supply woes affecting Kapuni plant

Ballance Agri-Nutrients chief executive Kelvin Wickham spoke to The Country's Jamie Mackay today. Photo / Sandra Conchie

Today on The Country radio show, host Jamie Mackay catches up with Kelvin Wickham, the chief executive of Ballance Agri-Nutrients, to get his thoughts on the gas supply woes that threaten a temporary shutdown of Ballance’s Kapuni plant.

On with the show:

Kelvin Wickham:

The Kapuni urea plant, operational since 1982 and employing around 120 people, manufactures approximately one third or 260,000 tonnes of New Zealand’s urea annually, specifically for use as a nitrogen-rich fertiliser.

Should an affordable and reliable supply of gas not be found soon, the plant is at risk of closure, says the chief executive of Ballance Agri-Nutrients.

James Robertson:

We preview next week’s Zanda McDonald Award Summit on the Gold Coast with a young man who holds a unique place in New Zealand farming history.

In 2019, at just 22 years old, James became the youngest person ever to win the FMG Young Farmer of the Year title.

Rachel Shearer:

The GM Wool for PGG Wrightson looks at the good, the bad and the dags of the current market.

Phil Duncan:

Monday’s weatherman joins us on a Friday to talk about the prospect of a La Nina spring - wet and warm.

Hamish McKay:

McKay on Sport. Talks Richie Mo’unga and the renaissance of free-to-air sport.

Listen below: