Mighty River Power project begins power delivery

In New Zealand, state-owned Mighty River Power said it is a step closer to completing its $430 million Nga Awa Purua geothermal power station. The company said testing at the station was conducted over the weekend and and electricity was added to the national grid. According to the company’s Acting Communications Manager Mark Hanson, Nga Awa Purua is running at 100MW for 3-4 hours per day in the testing phase and will be ramped up to its full 132MW capacity Friday, January 22nd while remaining in test. Maximum output for the facility, which is a joint venture between Mighty River and the Tauhara North No. 2 Trust, is expected in April. The company also said that it had lodged consents for another $400 million geothermal station at nearby Ngatamariki.