Ngakawau Restoration Project
Country
  • New Zealand
LocationWest Coast, South Island, New Zealand
StatusPlanned
Owner(s)Hydro Developments (2013) Ltd
Thermal power station
Primary fuelHydropower
Power generation
Nameplate capacity24 MW (32,000 hp)[1]

The Ngakawau Restoration Project is a proposed hydro scheme planned to divert acid mine drainage from coal mines to an ocean outfall to restore water quality of the Ngākawau River, in the northern section of the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand. The project is a configuration of the Stockton Plateau Hydro Scheme being developed by Hydro Developments (2013) Limited (the successor to Hydro Developments Ltd following voluntary liquidation). Project information can be found at https://hydrodevelopments.co.nz

In December 2008 Hydro Developments Ltd applied for resource consent for a 60MW hydro scheme (the Stockton Plateau Hydro Scheme) using polluted water from the Stockton Mine.[2] Consent was granted in January 2010.[3] The scheme was expected to reduce acid mine drainage from the mine into the Ngākawau River,[4] and was supported by the Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand and other environmental groups.[5]

In February 2010 Solid Energy applied for resource consent for an alternative 49MW plant in the same area using the same resource (the Stockton Hyydro Scheme).[6][7] In October 2010 both parties announced that they had reached an agreement on using water from the Stockton plateau for hydro-electricity and that they would abandon their respective Environment Court appeals of the others' scheme.[8][9] Solid Energy's application was rejected in mid-2010,[10] but consent was granted by the Environment Court of New Zealand in May 2012 subject to non-derogation of HDL's consents.[11][12] Solid Energy went into voluntary administration in August 2015,[13] and the Stockton mine site was eventually sold to Phoenix Coal (Bathurst-Talley Mining Ltd) in 2017.[14]

In November 2019 Hydro Developments (2013) Ltd (HDL) applied for its resource consents to be extended as development of the Stockton Plateau Hydro Scheme was advanced, having been submitted to The Treasury as a long-term solution for managing the government's historic (pre-2017) acid mine drainage liabilities. A decision on the government's preferred solution is not expected until 2024 or until it is clearer when coal mining will cease. The coal mining licenses expire in 2027. [15] The lapsing date for the consents were extended until 2026.[1]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Hydro generation stack update for large-scale plant". Roaring40s. 24 September 2020. p. 15. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
  2. ↑ "Stockton Plateau Hydro Project". West Coast Regional Council. Archived from the original on 8 February 2013.
  3. ↑ "Buller hydro scheme gets green light". RNZ. 20 January 2010. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
  4. ↑ "Pro-green hydro scheme gets tick". New Zealand Herald. 1 February 2010. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
  5. ↑ "Green Party thanked for supporting hydro scheme". RNZ. 31 January 2009. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
  6. ↑ "Solid Energy seeks approval for hydro scheme". RNZ. 3 February 2010. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
  7. ↑ Amy Glass (18 May 2010). "Hydro scheme would power 22,000 homes - Solid Energy". Stuff. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
  8. ↑ "Stockton hydro stoush resolved". NBR. 1 October 2010. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
  9. ↑ NZPA (1 October 2010). "Buller power scheme gets the green light". Television New Zealand News. Archived from the original on 3 October 2010. Retrieved 2 October 2010.
  10. ↑ Amy Glass (6 July 2010). "Concern over river halts Ngakawau plan". Stuff. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
  11. ↑ "Solid Energy gets consent for hydro project in Buller". RNZ. 2 May 2012. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
  12. ↑ "Stockton hydro-electricity scheme gains consents". Scoop. 2 May 2012. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
  13. ↑ English, Bill; McClay, Todd (13 August 2015). "Solid Energy into temporary voluntary administration" (Press release). New Zealand Government.
  14. ↑ Lee Scanlon (2 November 2016). "Phoenix to pay $46m for West Coast coal mines". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
  15. ↑ Lois Williams (26 November 2019). "Stockton Plateau rehab: Hydro scheme consent extension sought". RNZ. Retrieved 1 July 2021.


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