Media reports quote Mighty River spokesman Neil Williams as saying the company is assessing the Putauaki Trust-owned fields near Kawerau to see if they will support up to 100MW of sustainable generation. If viable a $NZ150 million 50MW power station, the Putauaki scheme, could be built by 2008.

Williams said this project was in line with the company's strategy to expand its energy generation portfolio. "Geothermal resources are abundant in New Zealand and Mighty River Power sees the opportunity for economical, sustainable development of fields such as Kawerau.

"Developing this natural resource also supports our commitment to use renewable energy sources," he said.

MRP plans to drill and then test four wells by mid 2004, each taking about five weeks to complete and reaching depths of 1800m. Tests at the completion of drilling would be used to assess the reservoir capacity and rock permeability to produce steam.

The Putauaki Trust is a Maori trust with more than 500 shareholders, which owns and administers 1150ha of land near the mountain (Putauaki), much of it lying over the Kawerau geothermal resource.