New Zealand: Mercury Reports Successful Maintenance at Nga Awa Purua Geothermal Power Station

Millions spent on massive geothermal power station shut down (Waikato Times)

While a shutdown of the power station usually takes 20 days, this time it only took 15 days.

Rotokawa Geothermal Field Manager Mike Stevens, with one of the spare rotors.
(STEPH RANGI/STUFF)

Shutting down a geothermal power station is not as simple as flicking a switch. Taupō has been hosting an extra 230 contractors for the scheduled maintenance shut down at Mercury's Nga Awa Purua Station on Rapids Road.

The power station was shut down on October 27 and all the working parts checked and replaced, if worn. It was back up and running again on November 10.

About $2 million was spent on the maintenance work, in addition to lost revenue of up to $250,000 for every day it was out of action.

Read More.......