"I am delighted that one of my first tasks as chairman of Energy Development is the appointment of Chris Laurie to this role," Mr Brown said.

"With a background of over twenty years in the electricity and gas industries in Australasia and around the globe, Chris brings extensive industry and management experience to this position."

Mr Laurie was the former chief executive of Orion New Zealand and has held management positions at various NZ companies including NZ Electricity Corp, Canterbury Drainage Board, Otago Central Electric Power Board and Transpower NZ.

A one-time market darling, Energy Development has been struggling to commercialise its solid waste-to-energy technology due to technical glitches with a crucial char gasifier component.