Huge New Power Schemes Planned In North Island

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27874, 24 January 1956, Page 9

Huge New Power Schemes Planned In North Island

“The Press" Special Service

WELLINGTON, January 23.

Three contracts worth millions of pounds, to develop North Island power resources, will be let by the Government in the next few months. Two will involve major works for the 180,000 kilowatt steam power station at Mercer and the 40,000 kilowatt to 60,000 kilowatt geothermal station at Wairakei. The third will be for the first stage in developing Ohakuri, another hydro-electric station on the Waikato River. Contracts have already been let for boilers and turbins at the steam station and documents are now being prepared for contracts for the major work—the construction of buildings and the installation of plant. No formal tenders will be called for this work. Some months ago interested firms were asked to send in their applications and it is believed that they have been supplied with information as it becomes available. The contract when it is let. will probably total about £7,000,000 or £8,000,000 and will be the biggest since the Roxburgh contract a few years ago. The choice of a final tender will almost certainly be made during the first half of this year. The first power is due to be produced from the station in September, 1958. Detailed investigations have been made on the best way to bring the coal to the station from the Maramarua and Huntly coalfields. The original proposal was for an aerial rope-

way, but, since then, the transport of the coal by canal and by pumping through huge pipes have been considered. These methods have proved on investigation to be unsatisfactory or too expensive, and the aerial ropeway plan will probably be adhered to. There may be some delay over the calling of tenders for the Wairakei power , station contract while the British Government makes up its mind whether to proceed with or abandon the heavy water scheme.- A decision is expected within the next month, and it is now stated that there is a 50-50 chance of heavy water being produced. Late last year, when the British Government found that the cost of the heavy water plant would be £4.000,000 instead of £2,000,000, it looked as though the scheme would be abandoned. If it is, it will mean an extra 20.000 urgently needed kilowatts for the North Island. Some modification to the layout df the proposed plant at Wairakei will be needed if the heavy water scheme is abandoned, but it is stated there should not be too much delay. The cuntract plan is for . the first 20,000 kilowatts at Wairakei to be produced in June. 1958, and the second 20,000 kilowatts six months later. If there is no heavy water a third 20,000 kilowatts should be available shortly after. The first stage at Ohakuri is the construction of a diversion cut. Tenders for this will be called shortly, but the station is not expected to start operating before April, 1961.