STATE HYDRO ELECTRICITY DEPARTMENT

Grey River Argus, 14 August 1948, Page 7

STATE HYDRO ELECTRICITY DEPARTMENT

Annual Report WELLINGTON, Aug. 1. Hon. R. Sempie, Minister of Works, to-day laid on tne taole oi tne House, ms annual stattuneu on the State nydro-Hlectric Department. He said; xn my last stutvmenc an account was given of the difficulties in tne field of electric supply in the post-war years. During me year under review me same conurtions were in evidence, and in spite of the adverse lactors, vvom was advanced to such an extent that the power position was mateitally improved in noth Islanas. In the North island the completion oi two oi the three jU,uuu k.w. u-uw ai Karapiro and the near completion of the Upper V/aikaremoana ocatioi. at rmitawu were cfiieily responsioie tor the improvement. In the South Island the provision oi an amount oi temporary storage at rukaxi gave a measure oi relief to die mam system, while the temporary storage at Cobb made a great dmerence to the supply m tne Nelsont.xaiiborougn districts. However, onue again a dry period came in the North Island, extending over a period ox Hve months, ursc at d aikui emoana and later at Taupo. isotinui rainfall recommenced in March, 1948, at Kaikaremoana, and in mprii, luaB, at Taupo, after which mere was the usual period of delayed run-on before the storage in the taxes began to improve. The shortage oi water was aggravated. by shortage of both coal and oil tor tlie steam stations at Auckland and Wellington during the early part of 1948. The shortage of oil fuel is worldwide and there is no reliable information as to the possible duration, or ultimate extent; of the shortage. The event, however, does serve to emphahize the importance of keeping oui country’s vital power supply independent of imported fuels to the greatest possible extent. The fact that sufficient oil fuel is not available lor even the relatively small amount of seam generating plant now in the country is very disturbing, as it practically rules out any large-scale use of this fuel in New Zealand for future powei generation. Coal supplies, for one reason or another, have not been equal to requirements, and attention is drawn to the fact that this condition is not pecuhiu to New Zealand. Any criticism in this regard would only be of use, if, at the same time, a remedy were suggested. The fact remains that a regular quantity of coal is not available, and this must arouse grave doubts as to the advisability of the use ot coalburning plants where a better alternative is moer readily available. Other countries without water power resources look with envy upon the immense water power potential oi New Zealand which only awaits development in order to place this country beyond the possibility or powershortages for a considerable time to come. < The Government is being constantly urged to either develop small power schemes or to allow various local bodies to do so, but under present-aay conditions it w'ould be manifestly unwise to meddle with these schemes now. The development of a sirrah power scheme can only be of local benefit if supply from the main system is not available, and .in such cases, the schemes licences have been granted. Apart fronr such cases, the schemes must be properly investigated, designed, and built in accordance with the national needs and then operated so that the power developed is made available for the general P°Clearly it must be recognised that because a hydro-electric site happens to be located within the area oi a particular local body that does not constitute any reason why people; in that area should have a prior claim to the power so developed. Conceding this point, then the criterion must be whether the development will benefit the whole commun ity. Under the present circumstances I would state unhesitatingly that with the prevailing shortage of man-power and materials it would not be for the good of the community to aflow such schemes to be proceeded with until freedom from power shortages is obtained by the early completition oi the major works in hand. . . Investigation of power sites is being pushed ahead and expanded as rapidly as possible to guage the power potentential This information is necessary in order to shape future policy, but for at least another decade I am of the opinion that the power requirements of New Zealand can, and should be, met by the development oi the major hydro-electric At the same time that this invent! nation of hydro-electric sites is being prosecuted, the Department of Scientific and Mustnal Reseat ch has undertaken the investigation ot the pos sibility of making use of geo-thermal St 'fn?s alternative is attractive provided the conditions are such as to lender the development of electric power from natural steam an economic and hydro-elec-trie power in time to overtake the normal increase in demand ana to restore the essential margin necessary for reliable operation is a very formidable one. Plant is in short supply the world over, largely due to shortages of the necessary raw materials Added to this the manufacturing’ countries are all experiencing, a lack of manpower and of factoiy space with which to cope with an unprecedented demand for power-genei-Ming machinerv. The generating equipment for a hydro-electric station involves the importation of approximately one-third of the value of plant, required to produce the same output bv steam, and it is the expressed wish of the United Kingdom authorities that the requirements of New Zealand should not seriously encroach upon We field of steam electric plant which is vital to the domestic need of the United Kingdom authorities. It will thus be seen that the present world economic situation affords even greater reason for the policy of . hydroelectric power development in New Ze Fo a r n hydro-electric plants the majority of the work must be done with cur own labour and materials, and calls for the willing co-operation of all those who have to design and build these works. In this connection the recent hold-up of work in the Waikato is regrettable from all points of view, and the success or failure of our efforts to overcome the power : will largely depend upon , the degiee of reason which can be brought to bear upon the industrial problems of this country.

FINANCIAL RESULTS The following is a summary of the results (unaudited( for the year ended March 31, 1948. , roq Q7Q* Total capital invested, £40,608,97J, works under construction, stocks, etc., £12196, 688; net operating capital, £28412,291; reevnue, £3,208,647; operating costs, £1,459,321; gross profit, £1799,326; the capital charges are.— interest, £1,072,227; depreciation, £263,054; leaving a balance of £464,paying income and social security taxes (£165,760) assessed for 1946-47, and allowing for net accumulated losses (£106,609), there is £191,676 left to meet the current year s loans redemption charge of £517,b03, thus increasing the arrears to £l,l6b>533 at March 31, 1948

NEW WORKS At Karapifo the second 30,000 k.w. machine went into operation in September. 1947. while the third machine,

due to the late arrival of turbine parts was noc ready until may, xtHb. me station has been lully loaded on occasions, and nas made a great difference to tne North island ? uppiy position. 2ii Waikaremoana the first 16,000 k.w. unit at Kanawa was put into temporary operation in April, 194 b, thus enabling tne lull use oi the two lower Waikaremoana stations at a time when tney were most needed. The final parts for the Kanawa turbines have now arrived and are available. Maraetai—The scheduled date for compietition still remains at early in 1951. Whakamaru. — Investigations are nearly completed, and it is expected that the design work and purchase oi piant will soon be put in nand. Rotora. —A topogranpic survey has been made and is oeing studied prepmu, y to intensive investigation. This scheme involves a long tunneli, so tnat the provision of equipment and personnel! for this class oi work is likely to be a controlling factor, Tekapo.'—lt is expected that the tunnel will hoie thruogh beiore tne end of 1948, but it is not anticipated that the plant will be ready to run before the end of 195 U. Pukaki. —The construction of an earth coffer-dam and the provision oi sluice gates during the year made a great difference to the power position in the South Island. Work is now proceeding on the construction of ths earth dam and spillway, which may be completed late in 1949. Waitaki Fifth Unit.—Although all the parts have not yet leit ths works, the fifth 15,000 k.w. is under erection at Waitaki. Efforts are being made to have the unit in operation by the end of 1948. Roxburgh.—River studies have shown that it is absolutely necessary to impound water and secure control oi the outilow of lakes Waxatipu, Wanaka, and Hawea tor the operation of the 320,000 k.w. development, ana also the outflow oi Lake Wanaka has to be controlled at an early stage m the construction of the scheme to establish control of flood w'aters at the Roxburgh dam site. It is estimated that, provided labour and materials can be made available in sufficient quantity, the work will take at least six ana a half year. Under these conditions it is unlikely that the initial operation of the plant could commence before 1955. Arnold.—The river How was maintained at or above continuous fullload 'requirements .except lor a sngnt reduction in the station output lor a period of twelve days in December. The repair and reconditioning of No. 2'machine was completed in April, work done including the fitting of new gates and main gate-ring connectinglinks, replacement of the steel thrustbearing cooling water pipes in copper, conversion of fittings to brass, and changing of the transformer cooling water suction from the manhole cover to the scroll-case. No. 1 generator was on load 8,184 hours, the percentage of 93.2 and 24 hours under repair; No. 2 generator was on load 8,049 hours, and under repair 658 hours. In both cases repairs were done when the generators were not in demand. Dobson—The Diesel station was called on to run as an auxiliary station, from April till August. The overhaul of No. 1 engine was commenced in February. No. 2 engine has been out of service since the failure of a compresosr cylinder and piston in April, 1947, the overhaul of No. 3 engine was commenced in November and completed in February, and on completion of its overhaul, No. 4 engine was put into service in June, but was withdrawn at the end of July following the loosening of a pinion on the vertical drive to the camshaft. A head overhaul of this engine was completed in September and the repaired cam-shaft was fitted in November. The generator ran: No. 1— 1173 hours; 2—49; o—1058; 4—372. They respectively were available loi service for the following percentages: 1—82.2; 2—6.7; 3—69.1; 4—46.7.