N.I. nuclear power plan

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33464, 20 February 1974, Page 3

N.I. nuclear power plan

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, February 19. Nuclear power stations would ultimately have to be built to cope with the energy needs of the North Island, said Mr W. Strauss, one of New Zealand’s foremost hydro power station designers, today.

In the meantime, however, conventional fossilfired thermal power stations—oil, coal or gas —would become the basis for all future baseload generation for the north, he said.

Mr Strauss, the Electricity Department’s senior design engineer for hydro power

stations, was speaking at the annual conference of the Institution of Engineers. He emphasised that in spite of the greater energy demand in the North Island, New Zealand’s energy needs and resources must be considered as a whole.

“Apart from the fact that South Island power needs are growing in their own right, all possible North Island hydro sources are de-' veloped or in the planning stage,”

Mr Strauss suggested three main areas in the South Island which could be further developed for hydro power—the Upper Waitaki, Clutha, and Lower Waitaki.

Preliminary investigations of other possible development sites had shown them- to be uneconomic at present, or technically very difficult, he said.

Petition.— Parliament was petitioned yesterday to pass legislation prohibiting the export of livestock for slaughter overseas. The petition, presented by Mr K. M. I Comber (Nat, Wellington Central), came from Mrs D. R. Alexander, and 18 others, lof Kelburn.—(P.A.)