New Zealand:

New Zealand PM Hails Ngatamariki Geothermal Power Station (New Zealand Herald)

Mighty River Power chairwoman Joan Withers with New Zealand Prime Minister John Key at the opening of the Ngatamariki Geothermal Power Station near Taupo. (Photo courtesy New Zealand Herald/Laurilee McMichael)

A geothermal power station, which is the culmination of 13 years of patience, persistence and determination, has opened near Taupo.

The opening took place October 3 and Prime Minister John Key attended.

The Ngatamariki Geothermal Power Station, which has cost almost $500 million, is a partnership between Mighty River Power and Tauhara North No2 Trust, a trust of iwi Ngati Tahu.

The project was agreed to between the two organisations in 2000 and construction began 21 months ago.

The new 82 MWe station can produce enough electricity to power 80,000 homes and is the largest power station of its type in the world. It has 40km of wells, some of which are up to 3km deep and reach temperatures of 300C.

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