Power for second smelter ‘not surplus’

Press, 1 September 1980, Page 30

Power for second smelter ‘not surplus’

PA - Wellington the. Environmental and Conservation Organisations have 'challenged Government . assertions that the second aluminium smelter proposed for the South Island would use surplus electricity.. In particular the group was? criticised on a statement by the . Under-Secre-tary for Energy (Mr Brill) that the smelter would use power ' from water now being spilled over dams. An E.C.O. - spokesman. Mr Robin Taylor, said that Mr Brill was mistaken.

"In the first place, as rainfall is unpredictable, all dams are designed to spill water from time to time,” he said. “Second, any ‘surplus power’ over that needed as an oper-

ating. reserve in the South Island hydro system has already bee.; snapped up . by the third potiine at Comalco’s > f .Tiwai y-; Point Smelter.” -

To help- its? case, E.C.O. has published 5000 copies of. leaflets headlined “Second smelter: thought through " or "" pushed through?” The leaflet says the decision, on the Flet-cher-C.S.R.-Alusuisse proposal will have enormous consequences ■ “because it forces us into a crash programme of power-station construction.”

It says that power generated for another smelter will cost 3.3 c a unit to supply, but will be sold for only half that, with other electricity users .and taxpayers paying the cost.