NZ: Mighty River Power receives consent to build 100MW Ngatamariki plant
Preliminary visualisation of the proposed Ngatamariki Geothermal Power Station (flash plant option) (source: Mighty River Power)
Alexander Richter
13 May 2010
Mighty River Power Ltd. said its venture with the Tauhara North No.2 Trust has received resource consent to build and operate the NZ$400 million (US$ 290 million) Ngatamariki geothermal plant on New Zealand’s central North Island.
Reported today, “Mighty River Power Ltd. said its venture with the Tauhara North No.2 Trust has received resource consent to build and operate the NZ$400 million (US$ 290 million) Ngatamariki geothermal plant on New Zealand’s central North Island.
Consents were issued by a joint Environment Waikato/Taupo District Council hearing committee and are subject to appeal until June 3, Mighty River said in an e-mailed statement.”
In its website, Mighty River Power provides further details on the project and the consent application for the plant, stating that “the Ngatamariki geothermal field is one of more than 20 high-energy geothermal systems within the Taupo Volcanic Zone.
Key facts about the proposal:
- Nominal capacity of 100MW
- Exploration wells drilled by the Crown in 1985-86
- Further wells drilled by Mighty River Power in 2008-09
- Resource consents required from Taupo District Council and Environment Waikato
- Consenting process scheduled from late 2009 into early 2010
- Located on the Ngatamariki geothermal field, 17km northeast of Taupo
- Land owned by Wairakei Pastoral Limited
- Will provide enough electricity for nearly eight times the number of Taupo District homes
- The reservoir has capacity to support the new station in a sustainable way
- Geothermal development is in line with the Governments call for more renewable energy
The Rotokawa Joint Venture are keen for your involvement and input into decision making, to secure a successful outcome for this proposed development and would like to thank everyone who attended the Information Days for their valuable feedback.”
The Taupo District Council and Environment Waikato are processing the Rotokawa Joint Venture’s Ngatamariki consent application. The application was publicly notified in November 2009. Submissions closed on the 18th December 2009 and a total of 12 submissions were received.”
