For the first time in more than four years New Zealand did not need to import LPG in the September quarter, as production increased from the Kupe field.The New Zealand Energy Quarterly, published today, said LPG production in the three months to September
For the first time in more than four years New Zealand did not need to import LPG in the September quarter, as production increased from the Kupe field.
The New Zealand Energy Quarterly, published today, said LPG production in the three months to September was at its highest level since the June 2006 quarter, and for the first time since the March 2006 quarter it had not been necessary to import LPG.
Gas production in the latest period was 11 percent higher than a year earlier, due to increased production from the Kupe and Maui fields.
That allowed supply to meet increased demands for heating and electricity generation during the winter months, the quarterly, produced by the Ministry of Economic Development, said.
Oil production at 29.4 petajoules (Pj), or 4.9 million barrels, was high by historic standards but nearly 7Pj short of the record high domestic production recorded in the December quarter 2007.
Electricity generation, which usually peaks in the September quarter, reached a record 11,639 gigawatt-hours (GWh), up 4 percent from a year earlier.
For the year, generation rose 3 percent to a record 43,019GWh, almost entirely due to the Tiwai Pt aluminium smelter returning to full production in the latter part of 2009, the quarterly said.
Coal generation fell to 355GWh in the latest quarter, less than half that of a year earlier, as increasing availability of gas allowed gas to be used at the Huntly plant instead of coal.
The 1562 kilotonnes (kt) of carbon dioxide equivalent produced from electricity generation in the September quarter was down from 1831kt a year earlier.
Emissions per unit of electricity generated were down to 0.13kt, the lowest level in nearly a decade, and "extremely" low by international standards, the quarterly said.
