New Zealand:

Running Hot - Mighty River's Geothermal Gems (New Zealand Herald)

Site Manager Greg Thompson on top of Ngatamariki
Power Station with some of the 240 cooling fans.
(Courtesy New Zealand Herald)

In a dusty pine forest clearing near Taupo, super-heated fluid from deep below the surface has started pushing its way towards Mighty River Power's new geothermal station.

Yesterday contractors opened a massive valve at the head of a 3km deep well, and pumped down liquid nitrogen to stimulate the 280C salt-laden brine and steam that will soon be used to generate power at Ngatamariki, a project that will cost close to half a billion dollars.

Water flow at the site is a significant milestone for the station, coming in the same week that the partial sale of the state-owned company took a major leap with the start of pre-registration by potential shareholders.

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