POWER DEMAND

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26692, 11 February 1948, Page 8

POWER DEMAND

MINISTER REVIEWS OUTLOOK PROGRESS OF CONSTRUCTION SCHEMES P.A. WELLINGTON, Feb. 10. Progress in hydro-electric construction schemes, on which will depend the supply to handle New Zealand’s increasing demand, was reviewed by the Minister of Works, Mr Semple, in a statement to-day on the electricity prospects for the coming year. Regarding the proposal that various small hydro-electric schemes should be allowed to be constructed, the Minister reiterated that such schemes would not have any appreciable effect upon the general power situation. Furthermore, while labour was still in short supply for the major schemes in hand or just ready to be commenced, it was inadvisable that manpower should be diverted from these schemes. The Government had embarked upon a full-scale programme of hydroelectric development that would tax to the utmost the efforts of New Zealand, Mr Semple continued. No difficulty was anticipated during 1948 in the Nelson-Marlborough area, where the Government had provided a temporary dam at Cobb. At Maraetai, the design work was well on towards completion, while the generating plant was either delivered or nearing completion in the factories. It was planned to have the first unit completed for operations in the winter of 1251.

At Karapiro, the Minister continued, the runner for the third turbine was expected shortly, so that unit should be ready for operation by the end of May. At Kaitawa it was expected that the intake would be completed by the end of March, and one machine would then be available, while the second penstock and second machine should be ready by the end of May. At Pukaki, in the South Island, some useful storage had already been impounded, and the main dam would be completed towards the end of this vear. In connection with the storage at Pukaki, the first parts of No. 5 unit for Waitaki were on the way to New Zealand, and an immediate start was being made on the erection of this machine. It was expected that the new unit wpuld be ready by the end of this year. Good progress was being made at Tekapo on the excavation of the tunnel, and construction of the powerhouse had been started. The manufacture of the generating plant was well forward in England, and it was expected that the unit would be ready for operation by the end of 1950. The investigation work on the Roxburgh development, upon which the future supply of the South Island would depend, was in an advanced stage, and it would soon be possible to order the machinery required for this immense project and get ahead with the construction of the works involved.

If electricity users save whatever power is possible now in order that the water storage in the lakes should not be drawn upon prematurely, and provided hydraulic conditions are not adverse, there is no reason why the promised allocation of power for both the North and South Islands cannot be supplied, although there may be some difficulty with peak, added Mr Semple.