Hydro-power project still in planning phase

A power generation project by Contact Energy to reconfigure the Lake Hawea dam and control gates remains in its infancy, with a starting date for construction yet to be decided.

Contact Energy was granted resource consents to construct a small 17MW hydro-electricity scheme at the Lake Hawea control gates in November last year.

When contacted by the Otago Daily Times yesterday, Contact spokeswoman Anne-Marie Shepherd said that since the consents were granted, the electricity provider had undertaken ‘‘in-depth design and planning work''.

This included feasibility studies and careful consideration of the best options for construction and the installation of two turbine generators, she said.

Once initial scoping work was completed, further information, such as a starting date for construction, would become available, Ms Shepherd said.

Contact's resource consent application anticipated construction beginning in ‘‘late 2008''.

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