C.N.G. pipe for Northland

Press, 31 October 1981, Page 23

C.N.G. pipe for Northland

PA Wellington Northland will be connected by pipeline to Taranaki natural gas, the Government has decided. The Minister of Energy (Mr Birch) said yesterday that the Government had asked the Natural Gas Corporation to construct a pipeline, subject to the successful negotiation of price and terms with the commercial users.

The pipeline would be an extension of the one to Auckland.

“The new pipeline will extend to Whangarei and will make it possible for potential users of natural gas in Northland to get supplies from Taranaki for industrial and other uses.

“Gas will also be available

for use as compressed natural gas in motor-vehicles and I expect to see a number of C.N.G. filling stations opened along the route of the pipeline,” said Mr Birch. The two largest users of gas are likely to be New Zealand Window Glass, Ltd, and the Mid-Northland Dairy Company. The corporation is settling contractual details with these two firms and with the Auckland Gas Company which is expected to draw gas from the pipeline to service part of its franchise area.

“Provided these negotiations are successful it should be possible for construction of the Northland gas pipeline to begin early next year and be concurrent with the refiri-ery-to-Auckland white products pipeline."