New Renew partner is Chinese-owned
A new European partner of a controversial waste-to-energy plant for the West Coast is Chinese-owned, despite suggestions its former Chinese backers were taking a backseat.
Renew Energy hopes to apply for resource consent for a Hokitika plant in mid-2020 and commission it in 2022. It would burn 1000 tonnes of rubbish every day to create 28 mega watts of power, up to 60 jobs and 150 more in construction. A group has formed in opposition to the plant.
Renew had previously announced its international partner was China Tianying, when the plant was mooted for Westport.
Former Renew Energy director Kevin Stratful told a public meeting in Hokitika in July the company was no longer going to use Chinese technology. It had a new European partner, but he could not reveal who. He later told The Press China Tianying would still be involved in building the plant, but would use European technology.
Emails released by the Westland District Council under the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act show Renew has reached an agreement with Urbaser, which is owned by China Tianying.
The Westland District Council redacted the name of the companies but the emails show the European partner is the owner of a waste-toenergy plant in Mallorca, which Stratful used as an example of wasteto-energy technology in his presentation to the July meeting. Urbaser owns the Mallorca plant.
Before the meeting, Stratful wrote to Westland Milk Products (WMP) chief operating officer Craig Betty on July 17 telling him Renew had reached an agreement with Urbaser. ‘‘Whilst [China Tianying] is one of the stakeholders in [Urbaser], mainly to gain access to the technology, the direct partner will be between [Urbaser] and Renew Energy. I believe we should think about an answer for what maybe an obvious question at next week’s meeting. What is WMP involvement in the plant?’’
Toni Brendish replied she was happy for Stratful to release a statement which said WMP had been in discussions with Renew about how it could support the potential plant.
‘‘Clearly, such a plant, if a commitment is made to build it, has real possibilities for us as an alternative energy source to provide hot water and steam needed by our plant.’’
It appears Stratful is still involved in Renew Energy Ltd despite no longer being a director. Current director Paul Taylor confirmed Stratful was still the company’s spokesman but was on holiday until September 9.
He was removed from the Companies Office register on August 22 – the same day he spoke to The Press on behalf of the company about its plans not to store waste ahead of the plant being consented.
Stratful also works as an economic development consultant to Development West Coast (DWC).
Development West Coast chief executive Chris Mackenzie said Stratful had told him he had resigned from his position as director of Renew Energy. Stratful remained as a consultant for DWC for 30 hours a week, he said.
Former Renew Energy chief executive David McGregor said he had not been involved with Renew Energy since April. He did not want to reveal why he resigned. Stratful told The Press in July McGregor was still working with the company on ‘‘the technical side’’ of the business.
McGregor said he provided the company with free technical advice because he was ‘‘100 per cent’’ passionate about waste-to-energy technology and hoped a plant would be built in New Zealand.