Non-Poisonous Gas In Use

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31906, 6 February 1969, Page 22

Non-Poisonous Gas In Use

(New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, February 5.

The Auckland Gas Companyended today its 105-year coal era and began sending a new non-poisonous, perfumed gas through its supply 7 system.

The company closed down its coal-gas plant at 11 a.m. to complete its change to vir-j gm naphtha as the source of its supply. From that time gas consumers found a new scent in, homes, factories and offices. This is the first non-poison- 1 ous dry gas supply to New: Zealand gas consumers. Because gas made from: virgin naphtha is odourless; the company is now injecting

a distinguishing odour to warn of leaking or unlit gas. Auckland gas is now produced by continuous catalytic reforming plants using virgin naphtha, a by-product of crude-oil refining

The company manager. Mri R. Worley, said the new' plants were largely automatic, installed as the first step towards the introduction of natural gas in Auckland and gave a product very similar to natural gas. When natural gas came to

i Auckland in February next J year the supply to the large central part of the reticula- ; tion system would be processed through the new plants to make it useable in existing (appliances without alteration. Staff becoming redundant because of the new process were being retired under a I plan approved by the Federa- . i tion of Labour. The gas price could not be i ■ lowered because the change . had cut the company’s Gov- • i ernment subsidy from ■ 5200.000 to about 560.000 a (year.