Marsden A overhaul interrupted

Press, 25 February 1983, Page 3

Marsden A overhaul interrupted

PA Whangarei An overhaul at the Marsden A power station has been interrupted so that the station can generate much needed electricity for the North Island. A major overhaul on one of the two units which produce electricity at the station began on February 15. However, North Island hydro storage is now so low that the oil-fired station has been brought into use to help conserve water. With lake levels only 11 per cent full, the New Plymouth, Stratford, and. Huntly gas-fired power stations are also producing electricity for the North Island. In addition, the coal-fired Meremere station, which is being refurbished, has been brought into production. So far, Marsden A has been used only at morning and evening peak times. The acting district operation engineer of the Ministry of Energy’s Electricity Divi-

sion in Auckland. Mr K. W. Hinks, said Marsden A would be used for the next four or five weeks. Staff at the station had done a lot of work to get the overhauled unit back into full production. The overhaul has been delayed until April 5. Mr Hinks said a unit of electricity from a hydro station cost about 1c to generate. By comparison, oilgenerated electricity from Marsden A cost 12.2 c a unit. He said the lake storage problem had been building up since last winter. The dry weather pattern of the last four months occurred only three times every 50 years. The unusual conditions had caused a very serious problem, and if the problem got worse, the Electricity Division would have to consider running its gas turbins at Otara in South Auckland. Electricity at Otara would be even more expensive than at Marsden A to produce, Mr Hinks said.