"It's not a question of talking down renewables, but we should not be trying to find an 'either/or' solution; it has to be 'both/and', renewables and coal and more gas and, perhaps, LNG," Beggs told EnergyReview.Net.
"Has the government really looked at the complexities and the risks of dearer energy? We do not have a clue what $7-8 a Gigajoule energy will really mean.
"Not only will Methanex be forced to close permanently, but perhaps aluminium company Comalco, and forestry, even dairying, will be adversely affected. The government should be more concerned about this," said Beggs.
Thrasher said that with Maui playing such a dominant role in the New Zealand economy, supplying about 30% of total primary energy demand, several large (1 tcf of more of gas) fields or a myriad of smaller ones would need to be discovered at regular intervals to ensure gas demand could be met to 2025 and beyond.
"Energy consumption in the year to March grew by about 6.5% and that was faster than the rate of economic growth. This was despite energy efficiency and conservation measures.
"If the present policies are failing then why continue with more of the same?"
However, Energy Minister Pete Hodgson told ERN that New Zealand had had an excessive dependence on thermal electricity generation and that Methanex was a creature of Maui.
"If we find another Maui sized field then we might have more Methanex; no more Maui then no more Methanex. You cannot alter that equation.
Hodgson denied he was anti gas, anti coal or anti LNG. "Could we please address them all? Thank goodness for coal as we move to a post Maui age."
It remained a fact that the most direct use of gas remained the best, directly providing hot water heating, heating for buildings, cooking and other associated uses.
Notwithstanding increased use of renewables and energy efficiency measures, Hodgson admitted the next few years would critical. "However, I am committed to a sustainable energy future; fossil fuel use must come down."
Meanwhile, GeoSphere is hoping the longest producing well in New Zealand proves to be a positive pointer for the company.
The Tikorangi-1 well has been producing enough gas to fire up a north Taranaki farming operation, including heating a home and cowshed, since 1935. That well lies within the old Fletcher Challenge Energy PEP 38705 licence, which produced the 101 bcf Mangahewa field but was largely relinquished.
GeoSphere has now picked up most of that acreage and plans to next year shoot more seismic over the PEP 38742 licence, including over the Methanex methanol plants and the planned onshore Pohokura production facilities.
GeoSphere also plans about 140km of infill seismic across parts of PEP 38749 and PEP38750, which a view to drilling in 2005.
