Expansion of Top Energy's Ngawha Geothermal Power Station will be one of the largest construction projects ever to be undertaken in the Far North.
With a total project value of $176 million, Chief Executive Russell Shaw says the addition of the new 28 megawatt power station to existing operations, will be game changer for Northland.
Once completed in 2021, the capacity at the power station will be increased to 53 megawatts; which, Mr Shaw says, will radically improve the security and reliability of the power supply for the whole Northland region.
"Our reliance on the National Grid which transports power from the south, will be substantially reduced," he says.
"Ultimately, expansion of the Ngawha power station could secure the region's energy independence, with clear benefits for local consumers by providing a renewable and lower cost source of generation and power."
Mr Shaw, says with recent major transaction approval from the Top Energy Consumer Trust and Top Energy Board, separate contracts are now being awarded for civil engineering, drilling services, and power plant design and manufacture.
The civil works involved in the expansion is massive.
"Over 700,000 cubic meters of dirt will be excavated over three summer periods from October to April, with completion of civil works in 2020".
The Execution of this work has been awarded to New Zealand owned local company United Civil Construction, which has been undertaking enabling works since October.
Mr Shaw says the company has extensive earthworks experience and has worked on some of Northland's largest industrial infrastructure builds and upgrades such as the Whangarei Sewerage Scheme Stage 3, civil works at Northport's Deep Water Port and roading projects such as the Kamo Bypass Stage 2 and more recently the SH1 Brynderwyn Safe System Project.
United Civil is responsible for constructing the platform for the new power station, forming the drilling pads for the geothermal production well and reinjection of geothermal fluid back into the geothermal field, as well as other associated civil works.
With a permanent base in Whangarei, Mr Shaw says that United Civil will largely draw upon a Northland based workforce, creating employment opportunities and contributing to the local economy.
United Civil and its subcontractors currently employ six local workers and are actively recruiting for foremen, experienced plant operators and keen labourers.
For the other two contracts, Top Energy looked off shore to deliver the best value for the project.
Iceland Drilling, with decades of experience in the field of geothermal drilling, including the Ngatamariki geothermal power station near Taupo, will send a specialist team and be based in Northland for one year from April 2018.
Israeli geothermal plant construction experts ORMAT have the contract to design, build and supply the power station which will commissioned in 2021.
Ormat has a long history with the operations at Ngawha supplying the original 10 megawatt power station, which was commissioned in June 1998 and then expanded to 25 megawatts in 2008.
Ormat management were in New Zealand for the signing of the contract in Kerikeri on 8 December.
