Geothermal power may be abandoned

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32873, 23 March 1972, Page 1

Geothermal power may be abandoned

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, March 22. Further development of New Zealand’s geothermal resources will be shelved this month, it was reported today.

Unless a suitable use for the untapped Broadlands field is found, the field will never be developed, it is reported. The other major geothermal field, Wairakei, is being used for power generation, but when the working life of the generating equipment ends in about 15 years, no further use is planned for that field either. The Broadlands field was initially planned for development to produce 90 megawatts of electricity, but the increase in demand for power led to the plans being abandoned, the report says. The Electricity Department says the demand in the northern half of the North Island is for 1000 megawatts of power, not just 90. For the last year a com-

mittee of Government officials from the Electricity Department, the Ministry of Works, the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, and the Industries and Commerce Department, has been studying the use of geothermal resources for purposes other than electricity generation. It is believed that the committee reported to the Government some time ago that at present no suitable alternative uses are in sight. In the meantime, all development work has been halted,

and it is believed that equipment, such as drilling rigs, will be offered for sale through the Government Stores Board.

If some heavy industry cannot be found to use the steam generated geothermally the fields may never be developed beyond their present stage.

Scientists have identified five geothermal fields north of Lake Taupo — Wairakei, the first discovered, Broach lands, about 14 miles northeast of Wairakei, Tauhara, north-east of Taupo,. Rotokaua, north of Lake *Rotokaua. and Wharepaina, south of Waiotapu.

The Wairakei field is cap-) able at present of producing between 130 and 160’ megawatts of electricity. The Broadlands field was intended for 90 megawatts, though at one stage 180 megawatts was considered

possible. It is believed that the three other fields are of an equivalent size to the Broadlands field.

THE South Island main trank railway line was blocked for more than 12 hours from 10.30 p.m. on . Tuesday when a northbound goods train was derailed at the Hapuku siding, about eight miles north of Kaikoura.

Nine waggons, part of a train of 42, left the line and were telescoped into, a twisted heap straddling the . main line, leaving about a quarter of a mile of track torn up.

Hie engine crew, Messrs N. McGee and B. W. Thomas, and the guard, Mr D. Mackie, all of Kaikoura, were not injured.

Railway , workmen work- ; ed throughout the night A bulldozer was used to push the wreckage off the line and trains were routed through the siding loop at Hapuku while new track was being laid. Repairs were completed at 11.15 am. yesterday. , y An axie tm one of the waggons apparently broke and the tracks were dragged for some distance along the track before the derailment occurred. They contained furniture, potatoes, flour and other general goods.