Methanex secures winter electricity supply again

Mike Fuge says the first quarter of the year has seen the lowest hydro inflows on record. (Image: NZME)

Thu, 08 May 2025

Contact Energy has announced a deal to buy gas from the country’s largest gas user, Methanex, to help cover winter demand after historically low inflows into its Clutha hydro catchment over the summer months.The deal for about 2.8 Petajoules of gas will run for eight weeks and begin immediately. It was announced hours after Contact received a touch-and-go clearance to buy the assets of Manawa Energy after a lengthy consideration.The Major Electricity Users Group (MEUG) welcomed the Methanex deal as pragmatic but no more than “c...

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