'A hellishly expensive place to explore'

摘要

Some gas will continue to be available for electricity generation for another 10 years. "The question is: How much?" says David Crawford, executive director of the Petroleum Exploration Association of New Zealand (PEANZ). The amount will depend on the offtake from Maui. Crawford says that if new medium to large gas fields are not found, the petrochemical industry will progressively leave New Zealand. First to go will be synthetic petrol production (the least energy-efficient use of the gas) and then the manufacture of methanol. The use of Maui gas for reticulation, which is the highest-value end of the market and its most energy-efficient usage, will be maintained and current contract arrangements for electricity generation, due to expire between 2007 and 2010, will be met.