No Decision Yet Made On Thermal Power Electricity At Rotorua

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22820, 15 December 1948, Page 10

No Decision Yet Made On Thermal Power Electricity At Rotorua

(P.A.) AUCKLAND, Dec. 14. No decision had yet been made on the development of Rotorua as the centre of thermal electricity generation, as sufficient information had not yet been collected, said Mr. E. R. MeKillop, Commissioner of Works, who returned today from an extensive tour of Britain, Europe and the United States.

Mr. McKillop visited Lardarello, Northern Italy, where electricity is generated from natural thermal steamThe plant there is being extended and should soon be capable of generating 250.000 kilowats.

However, the chemical composition of the thermal steam at Rotorua, he said, is much different and much would have to be done before any sort of scheme could be started there. The Government geologist, Dr. M. Ongley, was at present at Lardarello making an extensive survey. His report, coupled with local findings, would determine Rotorua’s future. When asked if New Zealand would obtain Italian equipment as war reparations if the scheme wont ahead, Mr. McKillop said the question would not be determined by this department and declined to comment.