Contact Energy receives approval for 250MW Tauhara project
Tauhara Geothermal Plant, Stage 2 development presentation (source: Contact Energy)
Alexander Richter
1 Nov 2010
Contact Energy receives approval for its 250MW Tauhara geothermal power plant project in New Zealand, under a new fast-track resource consent process.
In news from New Zeland it is reported that Contact Energy, has received approval for its 250MW Tauhara geothermal power plant project.
It is – so the news – the first approval given under a new fast-track resource consent process in the country. Being built it will represent the largest geothermal plant built in years in the country, likely before the planned 220MW Te Mihi project in Wairakei. Contact Energy also holds consent for development there.
The planned plant will derive its steam from the “largely untapped Tauhara steamfield”, where the company already runs the 23MW Te Huka power plant, which started operations earlier this year.
“If approved, the power station will bring around NZ$1bn (US$770m) of investment into the Taupo region”, and will satisfy the “electricity demand of around 270,000 average homes”, so the Contact Energy’s managing director David Baldwin.
“We are delighted that the draft decision is to grant the consents,” said Baldwin.
“We are also pleased that having been part of the new Environmental Protection Agency Board of Inquiry process we will likely receive a final decision by Christmas.”
“Under the amended Resource Management Act, the new Board of Inquiry Consent process sets a deadline of nine months for a decision from time of notification for projects of national significance.”
Source: TVNZ
