Nuclear Power Offer

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31162, 12 September 1966, Page 1

Nuclear Power Offer

(N Z. Press AUCKLAND, Sept. 11. Canada wants to supply generating et uipment when New Zealand begins producing power from atomic energy in the early 19705.

Members of an eight-man heavy electrical equipment trade mission from Canada made this clear in talks last week with the Minister of Electricity (Mr Shand) and

senior officers of the Electricl ity Department. The Canadian method of producing nuclear electricity from natural uranium was ideally suited to New Zealand conditions, said Mr K. J. Gray, who is vice-president of the Shawinigan Engineering Company and was formerly chief resident engineer for the company on the Canada-India reactor project in Bombay. Natural uranium was a much cheaper fuel than enriched uranium. Once used the fuel could be stored for reprocessing when it became economic in years to come, he said.

He considered that when larger generating units were required in New Zealand, power produced from nuclear energy would be competitive in price with other forms of energy. Mr Gray said that for the i last four and a half years a ■ small demonstration plant 2O megawatts had been in use in Canada. A 200-megawatt reactor would be commissioned in Ontario at the end of this year and Ontario Hydro planned a 1000-megawatt plant which could be developed in stages to produce 4000 megawatts.