Company chief executive Murray Jackson yesterday said Genesis had secured an option to buy 18 hectares of land between Helensville and Kaukapakapa if the project gained the necessary resource consents to proceed.

The site was only 8km away from the main natural gas pipeline between Auckland and Marsden Point, Northland. Genesis Energy had begun discussions with the Rodney District Council to make sure the project met environmental standards. Genesis also planned to consult with neighbours, Rodney residents, local Maori and environmental groups.

Jackson said Genesis hoped to have the proposed 360MW station come onstream during the 2008-09 summer to help meet increasing electricity demand from the rapidly developing areas north of Auckland.

He said he anticipated few problems getting the necessary consents as fellow energy player Mighty River Power had recently gained Resource Management Act approval for re-firing the mothballed Marsden B oil-fired power station on coal.

In addition, Genesis had had no difficulties getting consents for its new 385MW gas-fired station at Huntly, known as e3p (Energy Efficiency Enhancement Project), which it planned to have operating by the winter of 2007.

The Kaipara station could have initial capacity of approximately 240MW – which would limited by current gas pipeline capacity – but could have an ultimate capacity of 360MW if increased gas supplies to the plant were possible.

Genesis already had supply gas contracts for Pohokura, Kupe and Cardiff, if that prospect proves commercial, and would probably use a mix of these gases to fire its new power stations.