‘Real progress’ with yes to fast-track consent process.
Gisborne company Eastland Generation and the proprietors of Taheke 8C and Adjoining Blocks Incorporation (Taheke 8C) have reached a major milestone with their Taheke Geothermal Project.
Environment Minister David Parker accepted the project’s resource consent application under the Covid-19 recovery fast track consenting provisions, meaning the application will now be referred to an expert panel to consider.
The Taheke geothermal project is a partnership between Eastland Generation and the land owners, Taheke 8C, and seeks to develop and operate a 35MW geothermal power station inland from the northern end of Lake Rotoiti. An exploration well was successfully drilled in late 2021 and benefited from the Government’s Covid-19 recovery fund to support shovel-ready projects.
The project was awarded $11.9m from the government’s Covid-19 “shovel-ready” fund.
Well testing was conducted in mid-2022 and the results and data enabled the project to move to the consenting phase and make the application for fast-track consenting to the Ministry for the Environment.
“The development of our geothermal taonga has been a very long time in our journey to realise our moemoea (vision) to utilise our geothermal taonga and to ensure kaitiaki for our future generations,” Taheke 8C partner representative John Vercoe said.
“We anticipate a positive outcome from the Ministry and acknowledge the project team for overseeing the development. Our owners will be pleased to know that real progress is being made towards the commissioning of a new power station,” said Eastland Generation chief executive officer Alice Pettigrew.
“Together with our partners and Taheke 8C, we are thrilled to be approved for the fast-track consenting process. It is another significant step in the development of this exciting project and we look forward to continuing to move forward with it.
“The new plant is also a key part of Eastland’s ongoing development and growth strategy in renewable energy. It will also contribute towards Aotearoa New Zealand’s commitment to achieve 100 percent renewable electricity by 2035,” said Ms Pettigrew.
Planning for the first stage of Taheke is under way, and construction will commence in the next 12-24 months.
“This is a very exciting time for our business as earlier this month we announced a capital raise of Eastland Generation, which will enable us to expedite development of our renewable energy project pipeline.” Ms Pettigrew said.
The project is a partnership between The Proprietors of Taheke 8C and Adjoining Blocks Incorporation (15 percent) and Eastland Generation (85 percent), a subsidiary of Gisborne-based Eastland Group, which is 100 percent owned by community trust Trust Tairāwhiti.
The goal is to develop and unlock the geothermal resource beneath Taheke 8C’s whenua, which is located northeast of Lake Rotorua.
1 comment
When you get a million dollar salary regardless of the outcome and the government throwing $11.9m into your kitbag it is really hard to see the wood for the trees.
Our owners must be over the moon.
Lets hope that this project does not become an "own goal" for Trust Tairawhiti.
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