IN TWO YEARS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21092, 12 May 1943, Page 2

IN TWO YEARS

THIRD POWER SCHEME UPPER WAIKAREMOANA EAST INDIES PLANT The upper hydro-electric power development scheme at Waikaremoana .should be in operation within two years, so long as delivery ol' the plant is effected within scheduled time. Plant secured lor the purpose was intended for the Netherlands East Indies and was partly manufactured at the time of the Japanese invasion, and New Zealand was fortunate in securing it for the purpose of remedying a ditlicult position in regard to electric power supplies in the North .Island. This upper development scheme will be the third phase of the Waikaremoana scheme. The Tuai plant, with three generators, was pul into operation in 1929 The second at Pirapt.ua, three miles below Tuai. has one 20,000 k.w. unit in operation, while a econd unit of 20,000 k.w. is now being prepared ancl should be ready within a few months. Preparatory work is now in hand for the commencement of the upper development scheme, the power house for which is to be situated about a mile above Tuai. This plant will receive its water by way of a tunnel direct from the lake. The tunnel is to lap the lake GOft. below the surface at a point only a few hundred yards west of the present outflow, and it will take the water to the station which is to be erected on the upper side of Lake Kaitawa. which at present is filled by water seeping from the lake through many underground fissures. Two New Units Two generating units are to be provided, according to plans that have been prepared, each to be of 17.000 k.w. Turbines, generator ancl transformers are already partly manufactured. They were ordered well before the outbreak of war in the Pacific for a Netherlands East Indies hydroelectric station in Sumatra, but when the Japanese over-ran the Indies they were left on Ihe manufacturers' hands. The generating plant is of suitable capacity ancl the turbines have been designed for almost exactly the same head as for the final Waikaremoana development. The two generators and transformers are being completed at the works of Metropolitan Vickers, Limited, Manchester, ancl the turbines by Boving and Company. London.

If things go well while the plant is in transit, it is expected that the new scheme will be in operation in 1945 or 1946, and this, plus the second big Waikato scheme at Karapiro. below Arapuni, should go a long way towards overtaking the demand made and expected to be made on electric power in the North Island. This winter is expected to be the most difficult one since hydro-electric development began, but assistance should be forthcoming within a few months by the running of the second generating unit at Piripaua. which should be ready before the winter is out.