NGAWHA EXPANSION

It’s full steam ahead for the expansion of the Ngawha geothermal power station following major transaction approval from the Top Energy Consumer Trust and Top Energy Board. Top Energy chief executive Russell Shaw says this was the final hurdle the company had to pass to commit to a construction programme to expand the station to 53MW by June 2021. Bank funding has been secured for an estimated total project cost of $175m. Initial tenders for civil works have been awarded with some construction activity already underway on the Ngawha site; well drilling will start in early 2018.