OUTPUT OF 3000 K.W.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 77, 19 September 1942, Page 2

OUTPUT OF 3000 K.W.

CAPACITY OF COBB WITHOUT DAM MAKING IT AVAILABLE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE Interviewed to-day the District Electricity Controller (Mr E. B. Mackenzie> said that the Cobb scheme, without a dam for storage of water, would supply power equal to the present output of all the fuel stations in the Nelson and Marlborough districts. On the minimum flow of water in the Cobb the output of the scheme would be approximately 3000 k.w. There would be no attempt to build the dam until the main station was running on the flow of the river. The Electricity Department felt that it was necessary to get that minimum of 3000 k*v. available as soon as possible and before the dam was pro-

ceeded with. The labour position was such that the whole scheme could not be gone on with at the same time. He could not say when that supply would be available on account of the shortage of labour and the supply of steel from overseas. However, every effort was being made to push on with the work as fast as possible. Without the dam the scheme would not be. complete, continued Mr Mac kenzie. It was the definite intention of the Department to construct a dam of a suitable type and investigations into it were being carried out. The initial output of the scheme with a dam would be 10.000 k.w. with a single pipeline and that capacity could be doubled with a second pipeline. The present maximum consumption of power in the Nelson. Waimea Golden Bay (including the Cement Company) and Marlbor. ough areas was 4600 k.w.

Mr Mackenzie pointed out that in all Government supply agreements, circumstances permitting, the supply authority was guaranteed a certain minimum supply of Dower and to that extent the Waimea Power Board was safeguarded.