Possible coal-fired powerstation for the Buller

The company said the Buller is a good location because of the availability of coal to fuel a power plant and the advantage of being close to national grid transmission lines. Studies to date indicate the project would be commercially feasible.

The size of the plant would be limited because of the size of the local market, the limited grid capacity to Buller and environmental considerations.

The preferred location is north east of Westport close to where coal from the company’s Stockton coalfield is brought down off the plateau. Two possible sites have been looked at including one at Granity.

Solid Energy says it believes a power station would take at least four years to consent and build but the project was still at the feasibility stage and much more work was needed.

It will be at least December this year before environmental research could be finished and station specifications finalised.

If the project looks positive at that stage, Solid Energy would still not be in a position to apply for resource consent until sometime next year at the earliest.