Plans for thermal stations take flak

By RICHARD BRADDELL

Sustainable Energy Forum convener John Blakeley has hit out at plans by Contact, Genesis and Natural Gas Corporation to build three new thermal power stations.

Mr Blakeley, an engineer who argued for extra capacity a decade ago, said his stance then was justified by power shortages in 1992. But significant thermal generation capacity had been commissioned since.

Although possible power shortages from low South Island hydro- lake levels might justify another backstop, he said even bullish projections suggested that new capacity would not be needed until 2008.

Genesis Power has appointed Connell Wagner as engineers for its proposed $350 million 400MW combined cycle gas turbine power plant to be built at Huntly.

Contact Energy has also begun the resource consent process for another thermal plant at Otahuhu, while NGC is looking to build a thermal plant at Stratford to give it additional capacity to supply its 480,000-strong customer base.