More wells at Ngawha unlikely —Mr Birch

Press, 6 July 1983, Page 22

More wells at Ngawha unlikely —Mr Birch

PA Wellington It is unlikely that any further wells will be drilled at the Ngawha geothermal field in the foreseeable future, says the Minister of Energy, Mr Birch. The Government was studying the possibility of installing small electricity generators in the field to produce about 15 megawatts of electricity, he said.

Mr Birch visited the area because of concern about the impact on Northland of the Government’s decision not to drill a second deep well in the field, and to postpose development of , h 100-megawatt power station there.

He said there was a range of development opportunities which could benefit the region. The Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Energy were investigating the engineering, environmental, and economic aspects of installing small generators in the field, and the study should be finished by October.

• Other proposals being

considered included using the geothermal energy direct in industries such as forestry, horticulture,or manufacturing.

“The Government is still keen to use the Ngawha geothermal resource for the benefit of Northland if proved commercial markets for the energy can be secured,” Mr Birch said. Mr Birch also visited the Kaimaumau swamp, from which a company wants to extract Kauri resin and wax. The Government is considering a departmental report on the proposal to see whether a mining licence will be issued.

“If such a licence is issued it should have regard for the need to protect a scientific zone around the mining development, and it is likely that a substantial reserve will be created over the more vulnerable area,” said Mr Birch.

“It is also likely that further scientific and hydrological work will need to be done to determine the extent of the buffer zone.”