NUCLEAR POWER Govt To Engage Consultants

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31976, 1 May 1969, Page 26

NUCLEAR POWER Govt To Engage Consultants

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, April 30. A firm of English consultants will make a project report to the New Zealand Electricity Department on whether nuclear power is needed in New Zealand and, if so, what type of reactor and plant will be used.

Government approval for the engagement of the consultants, Messrs Preece, Cardew and Rider, of London, was announced today by the Minister of Electricity 7 (Mr Shand).

He said that, in determining the need for nuclear power, the recent discovery of oil and gas off the Taranaki coast would be taken into account as far as was possible as information became available.

“Present thinking is that nuclear power will be needed north of Auckland in the late 19705. Tentative plans are for a station on the Kaipara Harbour with four nuclear reactors feeding four 250 megawatt generators, to be commissioned at yearly Intervals,” said Mr Shand.

The completed station would cost at least S24om but at a high load factor would produce half as much electricity as the department now generated from all its hydro, thermal and geothermal stations. Four Firms The English consultants had combined with - four other British firms to form an organisation known as Associated Nuclear Services. The firms had been associated with the development of nuclear power in Britain since the early 19505. Preece, Cardew and Rider would have access to the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority, and to Euro-

pean and North American technology and services. They were well known in New Zealand circles, said Mr Shand.

They had been consultants on such major electricity undertakings as the Meremere coal-fired station and the planned New Plymouth coalfired station. Courses Taken More than 20 New Zealand engineers had already taken nuclear training courses in the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia. Mr Shand said there were several types of nuclear reactor and plant available. These were;

Heavy-water moderated and cooled, using enriched uranium as fuel —now in use in Britain. Heavy-water moderated and natural-water cooled, using natural uranium—now under development in Britain. Heavy-water moderated and cooled, using natural uranium. This last type was used mainly in Canada; and the New Zealand Electricity Department at present favoured it, claiming it to be more economic in smaller-sized plants, said Mr Shand.