Preference For Nuclear Power “III-Considered”

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30562, 3 October 1964, Page 3

Preference For Nuclear Power “III-Considered”

(From Our Parliamentary Reporter)

WELLINGTON October 2.

The opinion that Sir Ernest Marsden’s claim that a nuclear-powered base-load station in the North Island would be preferable to coal-powered stations on the West Coast was “illconsidered and unjustified,” the Minister of Electricity (Mr Shand) and Mr W. E. Rowling (Opp., Buller) said in Parliament today.

Mr Shand said he had commissioned a report on the feasibility of generating power in the Buller coalfield. When Mr Shand had answered a question from Mr J. R. Harrison (Govt., Hawke’s Bay) on Sir Ernest Marsden’s claim, Mr Rowling asked: “Would the Minister agree that this statement was ill-considered and unjustified?” Mr Shand: Perhaps I did not see the full text of Sir Ernest’s remarks, but I think I would agree with the honourable member. The deputy Leader of the Opposition (Mr Watt) asked if Mr Shand would confirm whether atomic fuel would have to be imported. Mr Shand: It must be appreciated that a large part of the cost of an atomic plant is taken up with the cost of fuel imported from overseas, and the cost of disposing of atomic waste. Both of these have to be paid for in overseas exchange. Replying to Mr Harrison’s question, Mr Shand said planning for nuclear power in New Zealand was proceeding on the basis that detailed planning for construction of a nuclear station would begin about 1968 or 1969, with

the station coming into operation about 1977. Some preliminary work, such as investigation of sites, was already being carried out he said. Many of the economies which had been reported in the development of nuclearpowered stations applied equally to other stations using coal or oil. These prospective economies clearly justified a reassessment of the practic-

ability of using New Zealand's coal resources. This factor had made the Government decide to engage a firm of consultants to report on the practicability of generating power from the Buller coalfield. No definite, comment could be made till this report was completed and costs could be estimated more accurately, however.