Power station news today

Press, 20 January 1982, Page 6

Power station news today

PA Wellington Electricity Division officials hope to reopen the Meremere power station before winter.

The officials will meet eight Department of Scientific and Industrial Research scientists today to hear their report on causes of cracking in a steam range at the 24-year-old station, needed repairs to the range, and other problems with station pipes. The scientists have worked at the station since early this month, and gave a preliminary report to the division this week which its mechanical operations engineer in Auckland. Mr Ken Hinks. said was "not too good."

"At the moment it doesn’t look too good, and we may have to replace the whole range." he said.

"We hope the final report can mean we can replace only part of the range and allow interim repairs for generation this winter." Mr Hinks said pipework costs for range repairs were likely to total about $lOO,OOO. and ‘the total job could cost less than $200,000.

Today’s reports would also recommend repairs needed for other piping at the station, he said.

The station's shut-down has forced the division to ask mines at Maramarua and Huntlv to reduce deliveries, but Mr Hinks said no problems were expected. The Minister of Energy (Mr Birch) will visit the station this morning for a first-hand check on the steam range problems.