Solid Energy confirms Mataura Mine as preferred site

Solid Energy confirms Mataura Mine as preferred site for Briquetting Plant

Solid Energy has confirmed that its former Mataura Mine site is the preferred location to build and operate a demonstration briquetting plant to supply the New Zealand industrial market with briquettes and trial their value for export.

Solid Energy’s General Manager New Energy, Brett Gamble, says the company had been considering three sites for the demonstration briquetting plant: the former Mataura Paper mill site, the Mataura Mine site, and the company’s existing New Vale Mine.

“The paper mill option was difficult because it required significant revamping and reconfiguration to accommodate process equipment as well as cater for operational product and traffic flow, and to meet Solid Energy health and safety standards. The cost and duration of getting additional, reliable power supply to New Vale Mine also made that option less attractive at this time,” Mr Gamble said.

The Mataura Mine site emerged as the preferred location because it is close to a reliable power supply, has a range of transport options nearby and was already zoned industrial with some existing consents for a coal operation, he said.

Solid Energy is completing further work on technical design and marketing options before formally lodging resource consents with the Gore District Council and Environment Southland early in 2011 to build and operate the plant at the former Mataura Mine site.

Mr Gamble stressed that any decision about the viability of a commercial plant will only be made once the demonstration briquetting plant has successfully met the company’s objective of producing low-moisture, higher-energy briquettes which have proven their value in New Zealand and international markets.

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