Dam works extended in 1981 energy plan

Press, 12 September 1981, Page 6

Dam works extended in 1981 energy plan

Parliamentary reporter The already ambitious hy-dro-electric construction programme proposed last vear is extended in the 1981’ energy plan, which has been tabled in Parliament, to meet increased forecasts of electricity consumption. The development on the upper Clutha River is advanced and a series of low dams on the lower Waitaki River is proposed. The developments reflect a broad policy preferentially to develop local renewable energy resources. More detailed planning on the Clyde power station indicates that this station may be commissioned in 1987, a year earlier than was proposed last year. The plan said that this would depend on the speed with which private contractors set up and recruited suitable workers. If the Clyde station could be advanced a year the next dam up the Clutha River, Luggate, could be scheduled for commissioning in 1989. a year later than had been proposed as being desirable last year. The plan said that

this should provide a better flow of work. Developments on the Kawarau Gorge, which runs into the Clutha, might now be more limited than had originally been thought. It had been thought that two dams would need to be built but engineering investigations. which would take two more years to complete, indicated that a single dam might be preferable. This was planned for commissioning in 1992. Additional South Island hy-dro-electric power could come from either the lower Clutha or the lower Waitaki. A low dam on the lower Clutha could be marginally cheaper than one on the lower Waitaki but investigations were at such an early stage that commissioning before 1995 could not be considered. Engineering studies and the environmental appraisal for a scheme on the lower Waitaki were well, advanced. A series of low dams was proposed, the first station. being commissioned in 1992. which would allow time to finish environmental investi-

gations being done by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries to protect the salmon fishery. The plan said that the completed scheme could contribute up to 3000 gigawatt hours of electrical energy. Electricity generation would continue to dominate investment in energy although other energy investments had recently grown in significance. An expected spending of $3400 million (in 1981 dollars) on-the expansion of the electricity system would be spread evenly through the period to 1996. About 80 per cent of this - would be in hydro-electric and geothermal plant. An additional $3OO million estimated investment in new coal mines would be associated mainly with electricity generation. The plan refers to concerns that sales of electricity to new industry may increase the risks of electricity shortages or a substantial use of fuel oil to unacceptable levels, particularly in 1986-87. Measures mooted last year, including the building of a million-tonne stockpile

of coal and the conversion of the Marsden B power station by 1987 to coal railed up from the Waikato, are confirmed. The report said that these measures, together with the advancement of the Clyde power station by a year and the inclusion of the hydroelectric development on the lower Waitaki. should take the level of security to traditional standards even though electricity load forecasts for 1995 were almost 2000 gigaw’att hours higher than had been predicted last year. Although it is scheduled more smoothly than last year, the development programme is still strenuous. The plan emphasises the importance of meeting the new commissioning date for Clyde (1987) and of meeting performance standards for the Huntly power station and a converted Marsden B station. It said that if difficulties occurred in these areas or should electricity demand increase more quickly than forecast then additional generating capacity might be required.