Fight planned against gas exports

Press, 2 August 1979, Page 21

Fight planned against gas exports

PA New Plymouth The Friends of the Earth organisation is preparing "or a campaign to fight the export of liquefied natural gas. "If the Government thinks it can give approval for the export of L.N.G. to North America or Japan without any opposition then it is going to be mistaken,” said the group’s national organiser (Mr Roger Wilson, of Auckland). Shell Oil (N.Z.), Ltd, has proposed a multi-million-dollar L.N.G. venture in Taranaki, piping the product to Marsden Point. The Taranaki Harbour Board wants the product shipped through Port Taranaki if the venture goes ahead. Mr Wilson said if the Government gave Shell Oil the go-ahead, “we will be in there boots and all.” “There is no way the country can afford L.N.G. exports, either from the safety point of view or from' the long-term economic point of view.” Mr Wilson said the group was planning its biggest campaign in several years on the issue. Large-scale exports did not constitute a wise use of Maui gas, which was not an infinite resource. It had to be used only in a sustainable energy system.

In this context it was scandalous to allow the gas to be exported to the west coast of the United States or to Japan. Californians had to be the most wasteful users of energy anywhere in the world. “For New Zealand, with its limited energy reserves, to prop up this wasteful lifestyle is ridiculous,” said Mr Wilson. “Californians must learn to change and we must not compound their problem.” Mr Wilson said a tanker-load of L.N.G. was an enormous amount of energy, up to the equivalent of 100 Hindenberg dirigibles, stored in a very small space. There had been several accidents involving L.N.G. and there was no ground for feeling confident in the ability of the industry to provide adequate safety precautions.