Pūkaki mega-lake never seriously considered: Meridian

Raising the levels of Lake Pūkaki would have major environmental and infrastructure impacts. (Image: NZME)

Thu, 04 Jul 2024

Meridian Energy says it has never seriously considered an option put forward by Government officials to raise Lake Pūkaki by almost 30 metres at a probable cost of at least $8 billion.The idea was studied and put forward by the New Zealand Battery Project, part of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), as they searched for solutions to the country’s energy security problems when dry years lower hydro lake levels.The work mainly focused on a large pumped hydro scheme on Lake Onslow. The incoming Government stopped that...

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