Latest news with #NZAS
Otago Daily Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Tiwai Point to ramp up production
Meridian Energy's Manapōuri power station. PHOTO: MERIDIAN ENERGY The Tiwai Point aluminium smelter is ramping back up as hydro lakes further north have received more rain. Meridian Energy said in a statement yesterday that it and New Zealand Aluminium Smelters Limited (NZAS) had agreed NZAS would ramp up production from June 16 to bring the current demand response to an end early, targeting a completion date of August 11. It had been set at November 25 but will now end more than three months earlier than that. NZAS will notify Meridian if the target completion date changes. The demand response option in place is Option 4. This is normally 185MW but has been modified to 50MW. "New Zealand's hydro storage is looking much healthier than it was just a few weeks ago, so we are now confident regarding security of supply this winter. As a result, we want NZAS to get back to business," Meridian Energy chief executive Mike Roan said. "This is another example of how willing NZAS is to support New Zealand's electricity system while making some of the purest, renewable aluminium on the planet and we are hugely appreciative of that." Meridian will next have the ability to call for demand response Option 3 (100MW) or Option 4 (185MW) under the demand response agreement between the parties to take effect from April 12 next year. It will next be able to call demand response Option 1 (25MW) no sooner than 60 days after this ramp up finishes and Option 2 (50MW) no sooner than 90 days after this ramp up finishes. There had been concerns about hydro storage earlier this year. New Zealand's controlled hydro catchments — the main driver to keep the lights on during winter — had had the driest start to the year in 93 years of historic records, a statement from Transpower said in late April. But rain had arrived in the catchments of the hydro lakes and helped to fill them up. Hydro power supplies about 57% of the nation's electricity supply. Minister of Energy Simon Watts earlier announced changes to drawdown limits at Lake Manapōuri and Lake Te Anau. Mr Watts said the changes would deliver an extra 45GWh of energy from the Manapōuri Power Scheme each year — enough energy to power around 6000 homes. It was an important step in the government and the sector's work to protect the security of the country's energy supply for the future, Mr Watts said. — PL
RNZ News
4 days ago
- Business
- RNZ News
Tiwai Point smelter to ramp up production
Photo: Power restrictions on the Tiwai Point aluminium smelter (NZAS) are being eased as hydro lakes levels have risen enough to ease fears of stretched power supplies this winter. An agreement between the smelter and its main power supplier Meridian Energy has allowed production to be cut and electricity usage reduced to preserve hydro resources. "New Zealand's hydro storage is looking much healthier than it was just a few weeks ago, so we are now confident regarding security of supply this winter. As a result, we want NZAS to get back to business," Meridian chief executive designate Mike Roan said. The smelter is the largest power user in the country and had been reducing its power usage by 50 Megawatts, which would start being phased out from the middle of the month allowing for an increase in aluminium production. "This is another example of how willing NZAS is to support New Zealand's electricity system while making some of the purest, renewable aluminium on the planet and we are hugely appreciative of that," Roan said. Under the agreement, Meridian has two options that can be called on if the power supply outlook deteriorates.
Scoop
4 days ago
- Business
- Scoop
Meridian And NZAS Agree To Shorten Current Demand Response
Press Release – Meridian New Zealands hydro storage is looking much healthier than it was just a few weeks ago, so we are now confident regarding security of supply this winter. As a result, we want NZAS to get back to business, says CEO designate Mike Roan. Meridian Energy and New Zealand Aluminium Smelters Limited (NZAS) have agreed that NZAS will ramp up production from 16 June 2025 to bring the current demand response to an end early, targeting a completion date of 11 August 2025 rather than 25 November 2025. NZAS will notify Meridian if the target completion date changes. The demand response option in place is Option 4. This is normally 185MW but currently modified to 50MW. 'New Zealand's hydro storage is looking much healthier than it was just a few weeks ago, so we are now confident regarding security of supply this winter. As a result, we want NZAS to get back to business' says CEO designate Mike Roan. 'This is another example of how willing NZAS is to support New Zealand's electricity system while making some of the purest, renewable aluminium on the planet and we are hugely appreciative of that.' Meridian will next have the ability to call for demand response Option 3 (100MW) or Option 4 (185MW) under the demand response agreement between the parties to take effect from 12 April 2026. Meridian will next be able to call demand response Option 1 (25MW) no sooner than 60 days after this ramp up finishes, and Option 2 (50MW) no sooner than 90 days after this ramp up finishes. A copy of the original demand response agreement and the new ramp-up agreement is available on Meridian's website at
Scoop
4 days ago
- Business
- Scoop
Meridian And NZAS Agree To Shorten Current Demand Response
New Zealands hydro storage is looking much healthier than it was just a few weeks ago, so we are now confident regarding security of supply this winter. As a result, we want NZAS to get back to business, says CEO designate Mike Roan. Meridian Energy and New Zealand Aluminium Smelters Limited (NZAS) have agreed that NZAS will ramp up production from 16 June 2025 to bring the current demand response to an end early, targeting a completion date of 11 August 2025 rather than 25 November 2025. NZAS will notify Meridian if the target completion date changes. The demand response option in place is Option 4. This is normally 185MW but currently modified to 50MW. 'New Zealand's hydro storage is looking much healthier than it was just a few weeks ago, so we are now confident regarding security of supply this winter. As a result, we want NZAS to get back to business' says CEO designate Mike Roan. 'This is another example of how willing NZAS is to support New Zealand's electricity system while making some of the purest, renewable aluminium on the planet and we are hugely appreciative of that.' Meridian will next have the ability to call for demand response Option 3 (100MW) or Option 4 (185MW) under the demand response agreement between the parties to take effect from 12 April 2026. Meridian will next be able to call demand response Option 1 (25MW) no sooner than 60 days after this ramp up finishes, and Option 2 (50MW) no sooner than 90 days after this ramp up finishes. A copy of the original demand response agreement and the new ramp-up agreement is available on Meridian's website at
