MP to make case for energy sources

Invercargill MP Eric Roy says he will push for development of several potential energy sources in Southland when Energy Minister Gerry Brownlee visits the region next week.

Wave and tidal energy, gas in the Great South Basin and the benefits of building a silicon smelter in Southland would all be up for discussion, Mr Roy said.

Mr Brownlee's visit to the region showed he was seriously considering development of Southland's energy resources, he said. "We've got huge resources of silica here in Southland, which would produce a high-quality silicon, and it's starting to get plenty of attention," he said.

"If a (silicone) smelter is going to be built somewhere in the world then we will be making a proposal to have it here."

If a silicon smelter were to be built in Southland, Mr Roy estimated it would generate about half of what the Tiwai Point aluminium smelter was bringing into the Southland economy.

"It could be as big as the Auckland Island pigs," he said.

Mr Roy said wave and tidal energy were also at the forefront of his thinking after Mr Brownlee called for applications for the third round of the $8 million government Marine Energy Deployment Fund.

The upcoming round offers $2m for pre-commercial wave and tidal stream-energy devices deployed in New Zealand waters.

Mr Roy had previously tried to secure a slice of the $8m in 2007 but failed to lodge an application in time. He said since then, two United Kingdom and Europe-based companies with interests in marine energy had contacted him about Southland's potential.

Tidal turbines, tidal barrages and turbines, which sit on the seabed, were all being considered, he said.

"Mr Brownlee's announcement has provided the incentive for us to have a meeting," Mr Roy said.

michael.forbes@stl.co.nz

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