Vector chief executive officer Mark Franklin said today that an investment of more than NZ$100 million would be needed to reinforce the greater Auckland infrastructure system, and some development scenarios lifted the total necesssary expenditure to NZ$200 million.
For the past three years, Vector subsidiary NGC has been progressing a pipeline route designation application for a new 86km transmission pipeline from Rotowaro, south of Auckland, to East Tamaki in Auckland's eastern suburbs.
This would enable NGC to build timely additional pipeline capacity for anticipated gas-fired power station developments in greater Auckland, as well as increasing general demand in New Zealand’s largest city.
Relevant authorities had last year approved the Rotowaro-East Tamaki pipeline designation application and all outstanding issues, with a small number of appellants, were now resolved.
As it was unlikely this designation application would be appealed to the Environment Court, NGC would have secured a 10-year option for the construction of this additional pipeline.
Franklin added that this week’s announcement by Genesis Energy - of a preferred site for its proposed gas-fired power near Helensville – would certainly require the Rotowaro–East Tamaki pipeline to be built, together with other pipeline system reinforcements.
