No Buyer Found For Big Shovel

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32367, 5 August 1970, Page 14

No Buyer Found For Big Shovel

(From Our Own Reporter)

WELLINGTON, August 4.

The Government has been unable to find a buyer overseas for a giant 10-cubic-yard electric-powered shovel, designed for the Buller coalfield in anticipation of supplying the fuel for the New Plymouth power station.

The shovel will be stored Christchurch, in November, until the best use for it can 1969. be determined. The New Zealand flrm was

This was disclosed by the Minister of Mines (Mr Shelton) today in a written reply to a question by Mr W. E. Rowling (Lab., Buller). Mr Shelton said that a shovel was ordered from John Burns (Engineering), Ltd, of

agent for the successful tenderer, the Bucyrus-Eire Co., of the United States. When the decision was made in May, 1970, to use either oil or natural gas instead of coal for the station, the Mines Department attempted to negotiate cancellation of the contract. Discussions were held with Bucyrus-Erie representatives, who came to New Zealand for the purpose. The shovel was near completion in the Milwaukee factory, however, and cancellation could not be arranged. Neither was it possible to dispose of the shovel overseas, as its electric components had been built to British specifications, which made it fit for use only in the United Kingdom or New Zealand. There was an option to purchase a second shovel within six months of the original order, but this was not taken up. The shovel will arrive in New Zealand soon, and will go straight into storage.