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New Zealand Aluminium Smelters (NZAS) is keeping an open mind on re-opening the fourth potline at its Tiwai Point plant in Southland. The potline closed early in 2020 in response to the Covid-19 pandemic and has remained shut ever since. NZAS chief executive and general manager Chris Blenkiron said NZAS was open to exploring its options.

Meridian Energy, which runs the nearby Manapōuri power scheme, is NZAS’ main power supplier. Reopening line four would require an extra 50 megawatts (MW) of power, over and above the 572MW negotiated last month. “We are open now to exploring another 50MW to run the full operation and to exploring options that might exist there,” Blenkiron said at a Meridian investor day presentation.



Tiwai, he said, had one of the lowest carbon emissions of any aluminium smelter around the world. NZAS last month signed 20-year electricity arrangements with Meridian Energy, Contact Energy and Mercury NZ to set pricing for an aggregate of 572MW of electricity. Meridian chief executive Neal Barclay said the deal with NZAS was “complex and time-consuming”.

“To conclude it in such a positive and constructive fashion is great, not only for the sector, but for the country as a whole,” he said. “It does provide the sector with a lot of certainty and it will free up a lot of investment, particularly in the South Island, going forward, so it is exactly what we needed.” Barclay noted that four years ago, NZAS was looking at closing the facility due t.

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