Tiwai Point smelter safe until 2017; Meridian still sole supplier

Tiwai Point smelter safe until 2017; Meridian still sole supplier
By Pattrick Smellie Aug. 3 (BusinessDesk) - The Tiwai Point aluminium smelter will remain open, with Meridian Energy remaining its sole electricity supplier at an undisclosed but somewhat improved electricity price for about 30 percent of the smelter's total consumption. Meridian had hoped to convince one or more of its rival electricity suppliers to take up the slack on the 572 Megwatt contract to supply the smelter at heavily discounted rates, but in the end was only able to gain support at arms' length through a hedge contract with Con...