‘Real’ petrol saving 2 p.c.

Press, 15 June 1979, Page 4

‘Real’ petrol saving 2 p.c.

Wellington

A 2 per cent real saving in petrol consumption had been achieved this year compared with last year, said the Minister of Energy (Mr Birch) yesterday. But the saving was actually closer to 5 per cent because a 3 per cent growth in consumption had been predicted for this year.

Mr Birch told a news conference that he had hoped the savings would have been higher. But if the present world shortfall of about 2M barrels a day was shared equally among all International Energy Agency members they should be able to live with it by adopting voluntary and mandatory measures. Carless days and rationing were still only contingency plans.

Mr Birch, who returned to New Zealand on Wednesday, after nearly four weeks overseas, said he discussed the Government’s latest oil-tax package with the oil companies and thought they were “reasonably relaxed” about it. As far as he was concerned no further changes to the package were needed. He expected the Government to make a decision on a synthetic-petrol plant about the end of August or September.

Of the role of Petrocorp, the State-owned energy company, he said that more cooperation between the corporation and private companies in offshore and onshore exploration might be desirable.

Mr Birch reported to the Government caucus yesterday on his overseas trip.