$15M facelift for power station?

Press, 6 September 1980, Page 23

$15M facelift for power station?

PA Auckland The ageing Meremere power station may get a $l5 million facelift, thanks_ • to Government sales of electricity to energy-inten-sive industries. The station is. still “officially” set to close by April 1, 1984, but Ministry of Energy staff are investigating the economics of giving the 22-year-old plant a new lease of life. The decision to close the coal-fired station was made two years ago when, as a peak-time only plant, a $lO million bill to enable it to meet tough new clean-air regulations could not be justified. However, the Government’s go-ahead to the third potline at Tiwai Point and the likely building of a second aluminium smelter, have changed future demands.

Mr K. McCool, general manager of the Ministry’s Electricity • Division, emphasises that a final decision has yet to be made. “We are still reconsidering the possibility of extending the station’s life,” he said.

He was reluctant to comment on, the station’s future before a final decision was made, but said that the rethink on Meremere had been triggered by Government moves to sell more power The $l5 million figure for improving the station would “probably be about right." It is believed that the station, which has a nominal life of 25 years, could be kept working for another 10 years after refurbishing. However, Mr McCool said he could not confirm that.