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| Media Release Latest
News | Archives New Zealand faces a fuel supply issue, and Project Aqua, if it had gone ahead, wasn’t necessarily going to prevent an energy crisis, says John Gardiner, Deputy Chief Executive of the Institution of Professional Engineers New Zealand (IPENZ). “What we face is a fuel access issue – we don’t lack energy sources in New Zealand, what we lack is the ability to access them quickly. Water for hydro, coal, wind, geothermal and other sources of fuel are bound by regulatory frameworks which are slow, expensive and cumbersome. More gas is undoubtedly out there, but it is pure chance for it to be discovered and developed in time. “While New Zealand needs to balance the conflicting demands on our resources, surely what we need is a quicker more efficient framework, and strong leadership to take New Zealand through the next 10 years,” said Mr Gardiner. “One immediate short-term and medium solution is for the government to back a major push to get more energy savings to slow the growth rate of demand. At present demand is growing about 2% a year. That is, our present rate of efficiency gain is more than outstretched by new demands. With a concerted programme backed at the highest level we might be able to significantly lower the growth of demand. This is at least one area where the Government has a tool box, The National Energy Efficiency and Conservation Strategy, driven by EECA. Such an approach is also essential to assist us meet Kyoto obligations,” he said.
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