Wairakei Problems Causing Doubts About Expansion

Press, Volume C, Issue 29624, 21 September 1961, Page 6

Wairakei Problems Causing Doubts About Expansion

(New Zealand Press Association

WELLINGTON, Sept. 20. Mechanical troubles and geothermal power production problems which have dogged the Wairakei scheme almost since its' inception are responsible for doubts over coni tinued expansion, according to the Minister of Electricity (Mr Goosman). But there was no need for an early decision because the Cook Strait cable would provide extra power needed for the North Island after 1965. he said. The resumption of the Maraetai No. 2 hydro-electric power station project would depend on the development of Wairakei, Mr Goosman said in the House of Representatives. The Wairakei scheme is estimated, in its full conception, to cost £24 million in three stages. The first stage, to produce 63,000 kilowatts, was completed on March 30 Stake two, to cost £8 million. is under way and scheduled for completion in March,

1963 This will raise capacity to 151.400 kilowatts Stage three, yet to be authorised, would lift output to an ultimate 250.000 kilowatts. Stage one was cut into the power system nine months behind schedule. Full capacity was reached on April 6, 1960. On August 22 last year, broken turbine forced engineers to close two of the seven machines in the first stage On May 31, 1959, the station was closed down for five days to change a cracked steel compensator. Three months later the station was shut down again, this time for 21 days, for repairs and installation work. There was trouble later with a machine governor and, in particular, with machine gas exhausters. The present output w T as only 64.000 kilowatts and less when maintenance was being carried out. said Mr Goosman. Final repairs had yet to be

■ made to two intermediate pressure turbines but the ■ machines were running. I There had been delays of • severals months with the commissioning of machines > frr stage two. and with the ! pilot hot water plant. 1 Stage three was planned to 1 use drawn-off hot water ’’’flashed’’ into steam, a new . technique at Wairakei and I experiments pointed to some > difficulties. I The proportion of water drawn from the bores was i lessening. A five-year £1 i million drilling programme 1 was under way to seek further steam in new areas > nearby. , The latest Power Planning ■ Committee report referred to . the two types of schemes. • It said ‘‘another important . economic factor relates to the • conservation of overseas funds. Hydro - electric s development hitherto has had ! marked advantages over ; ’steam projects. This aspect - must be carefully studied before deciding future pro- > jects.”