HYDRO SCHEMES ON WAIKATO

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28257, 20 April 1957, Page 2

HYDRO SCHEMES ON WAIKATO

Plan To Increase Generation

(New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, April 19.

A scheme to add hundreds of thousands of kilowatts of generating plant to power stations on the Waikato river is before the Government, it is believed. Major changes to the Whakamaru and Maraetai hydro-electric projects are said to be involved, as well as the installation of extra generating units in the Atiamuri and Ohakuri stations, now under construction.

Lake Taupo would be raised — possibly by a foot—in a move closely tied to this plan. The main points in the proposals are:—

New (and extra) power houses at Whakamaru (now 100,000 k.w.) and Maraetai (now 180,000 k.w.). They would produce between 200,000 k.w. and 250,000 k.w.

Additional generating units for the new station being built at Atiamuri (increasing its capacity from 63,000 k.w. to 84.000 k.w.) and also at Ohakuri (increasing it from 84,000 k.w. to 110.000 k.w.). The scheme hinges upon the success of the Wairakei geothermal steam power project. Also tied in is the proposal to divert some of the tributaries of the Wanganui river into Lake Rotoaira —at the southern end of Lake Taupo—and from there into Lake Taupo. This would give two useful hydro-electric stations and also more water for the Waikato. Big Advantage

Advocates of the scheme say the big advantage of building extra power houses at Whakamaru and Maraetai is that by using existing dams power can be produced far more cheaply than by developing a new scheme on another river.

The proposal can only work, it is stated, if the complexion of power generation in the North Island is changed radically. It depends upon enough geothermal steam being available at Wairakei to convert the station there to a base load unit. This means a station that runs continuously, supplying the minimum power requirements for the North Island. Engineers are confident there is power of this order available.