Shutting Tiwai not the answer for Auckland power supply - Rio Tinto

Thu, 09 Jan 2020

Allowing the Tiwai Point aluminium smelter to shut and diverting its electricity supply to the North Island could be negative for Auckland’s power supply long-term, Rio Tinto says.The firm, which is seeking lower power costs to keep the plant near Bluff operating, said closure of the 48-year-old site would result in an inefficient bypassing of the existing grid assets in Southland.That would necessitate a roughly $600 million investment – over five to eight years – to get that electricity to Auckland, and any benefit from lower wholesale power...

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