South 'well positioned' for oil, gas

Southland was well positioned to host international oil and gas exploration and production, the Southland Energy Consortium's chairman said.

Mark O'Connor said Southland already had several vital requirements to support exploration and production in the Great South Basin.

These included a port with the needed infrastructure, proximity to the Great South Basin, enough land for storage and equipment and engineering resources.

His comments appear to confirm the group's research, revealed before the seven-strong delegation left for a week-long fact-finding trip to Norwegian energy hub Stavanger last week.

They went to assess the impact the North Sea oil boom had on Stavanger.

Mr O'Connor says in a statement at the weekend that Stavanger had established itself as the primary service centre for oil and gas exploration and production activities on the Norwegian continental shelf.

Although oil and gas production began in 1970 and the industry was in an advanced stage, the delegation took in some of the city's experiences from the past four decades.

It visited sites and was given presentations from industry and local government representatives and educational institutions. These officials explained the key strategies used to attract the oil companies to Stavanger and described the infrastructure needed to support the industry.

"Local government attitude was cited as one of the key factors in the initial stages of attracting industry," Mr O'Connor says.

The group will analyse data collected in Norway on its return and will present its findings to the wider Southland Energy Consortium early next year, he says.

Southland must continue to plan for the development of what could be significant energy reserves found either within the province or immediately offshore, he says. Active promotion to international oil/gas participants and central government would continue.

Most of the delegation, which included Invercargill Mayor Tim Shadbolt, Cr Norman Elder and city council finance director Dean Johnston, is expected to return to the country today. It is unclear when Mr Shadbolt will return.

sam.mcknight@stl.co.nz

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