Start At Manapouri Expected Soon

Press, Volume C, Issue 29402, 3 January 1961, Page 11

Start At Manapouri Expected Soon

eNew Zealand Press Association)

INVBtCARGILL, #«iiua.j 2. l*Tdl|fttaary work on k*’ M ■napni I power sckeaie sh—soon after tte holiday* for the development company now known *s Comalco Aluminium Produets Pty. LUt A topographical survey will determine the site of the proposed underground powerhouse before pre-construction drilling and shaft-sinking work is done. The powerhouse will be opepf the deepest in the world » n > unit power cost will/ compare favourably with coSts of pfcer schemes now being built. The pre-construction work tKs! year is likely to involve sinking* a shaft about 800 feet in the west arm of the lake. The work will provide information essentia! for designing the powerhouse it is proposed to site about that depth. The company hopes to have all designs completed and ready for tender by the end of 1961. The first-stage development of the scheme will produce 280,000 kilowatts for the aluminium smelter in Southland. It is estimated that full development will produce about 600,000 kilowatts. The first stage will probably entail only a low barrage on the Waiau river, the natural outlet from Lake Manapouri. First-stage expenditure on the aluminium project is estimated at £AI3O million. Of that, about £A4O million will be absorbed by the alumina plant, harbour, township and other facilities at Weipa. Australia, where there is h huge deposit of bauxite ore. Tasmanian Plant About £A9 million will be spent on the Bell Bay aluminium plant in Tasmania. It is a small smelter now producing 12,000 tons and is to be expanded to at least 28.000 tons capacity. About £ABI million will be absorbed by the projects for New Zealand.

It is thought the topographical survey of Manapouri will occupy about a week. The other exploratory work will take several months.

Tile shaft about 600 feet deep and other drilling could involve

six to eight months of work on tb'-ee shifts daily with about 20 L. 1 * js hoped men will move into t Eri d °n January 9 on a Lands and Survey Department triansigation SU rvey of the west arm-Deep Cove area. The survey W 1“ provide data essential for 3 tw mapping. Thy seheme proposal is to spill theJ*Wer down the 600 ft shaft to tse turbines and send it from tbCto through a trail-race tunnel several miles long to Doubtful Sound.