Tiwai chance ‘being missed’

Press, 10 September 1988, Page 8

Tiwai chance ‘being missed’

By

BRENDON BURNS,

political reporter

National members of Parliament in Otago/ Southland say an opportunity to expand the Tiwai Point aluminium smelter is being missed. The member of Parliament for Awarua, Mr Jeff Grant, speaking on behalf of his colleagues in Otago/Southland, said the area had the obvious ingredients for a fourth and fifth potline at the Bluff smelter.

There was surplus power and plenty of people out of work. Negotiations on a new power price for the smelter have still not reached a conclusion after many months of negotiation. Mr Grant said Comalco was looking to extend its aluminium production

somewhere in the world, but the Government was doing nothing to promote expansion at Tiwai Point. Comalco’s general manager, Mr Kerry' McDonald, said recently that the continuing uncertainty about electricity supply was a dominant factor in his company’s attitude towards the smelter. However, while the company has indicated it was considering expansion, its preference seems to be a Queensland plant. Tiwai Point, a twopotline smelter which has already had a third one added, is said to be close to the level of production envisaged. Comalco has offered to buy the Manapouri power scheme to ensure its future power supplies, but negotiations with Electricorp are continuing.