March 21, 2024
NZ keen to to rewrite refinery story
Associate Energy Minister Shane Jones says the Government is starting the investigation into reopening the Marsden Point oil refinery which was part of New Zealand First’s coalition agreement with National.
Refining New Zealand ceased refinery operations two years ago, and under the name Channel Infrastructure it now uses the site near Whangarei as a fuel import terminal.
In response to a question yesterday, Mr Jones said Marsden Point could be a critical part of a fuel security plan to safeguard against domestic or international disruptions.
“We should also remember the majority producer of jet fuel, in fact all shipping fuel and more than half of our diesel came a lot more confidently and reliably to New Zealand as a consequence of that refinery,” Mr Jones says.
Shane Jones claimed Labour stood by while the refinery closed.
A 2021 cabinet paper from then energy minister Megan Woods said there was not a strong case to support continued refinery operations on fuel security, and the company had not not sought a subsidy or other assistance to maintain its oil refining operations,
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No date has been released for the completion of the security plan.