Dunedin businesses are preparing to be promoted to the oil and gas exploration sector in a publication and DVD giving a snapshot of the city's resources and attractions.
While a decision to test drill for oil in the Great South Basin by two separate consortiums is yet to be made, and further work many years off, Otago and Southland businesses have been vying for the attention of Exxon Mobil and OMV and marshalling their respective resources and services - especially the transport, freight, engineering and maritime sectors.
Farra Engineering chief executive, and the chairman of city cluster Engineering Dunedin, John Whitaker said the promotion material is targeting Exxon and OMV. Given one had already extended its permit, the group would have to wait until the time was right to arrange meetings overseas with the consortiums.
"We have got to put forward a coherent case to the right people," Mr Whitaker said.
The DVD and 17-page booklet is a joint effort by the Dunedin City Council, University of Otago, Port Otago, cluster group Engineering Dunedin and Dunedin International Airport.
Representatives from Otago University, Port Otago and the council's economic development unit are to visit New Plymouth this week for discussions with sector suppliers, shippers, Port of Taranaki, oil and gas explorers and producers and local staff of Austrian-owned OMV.
Oil giant Exxon Mobil has just gained a one-year extension to its five-year exploration permit in the Great South Basin, meaning it has a further 12 months to decide to bring in an oil rig to test drill the basin or drop the permit, while OMV has until July to make a similar "drill or drop" decision.
