Methanex shutters operations to keep NZ's lights on – and make money

The major electricity companies' scramble for fuel to bridge the energy shortfall has had some success, but the price is that one of New Zealand’s largest gas users has to shut down until October.After weeks of talks, Contact Energy and Genesis Energy announced they had secured large amounts of gas – 3.5 petajoules and 3.2PJ, respectively – to keep their gas-fired electricity units operating until then.This will temporarily solve part of the fuel problem, which is caused by a shortage of gas, low wind and hydro lakes. It h...