TrustPower Pleased with Resource Consent

Media Statement January 19, 2004

TrustPower Pleased with Resource Cnsent Confirmation

Resource Consent Confirmed for Waipori Generation Scheme

Electricity generator and retailer TrustPower says it is pleased that the Environment Court has now confirmed the conditions of the Resource Consent for its Waipori power generation scheme.

TrustPower Generation Division Manager Mike Kedian says the confirmation of the consent conditions for the next 35 years provides certainty for the company, and at the same time ensures that the wider community will benefit from the scheme being able to produce electricity as efficiently as possible, without compromising the environmental and amenity values that have existed in the Lake Mahinerangi, Waipori River and downstream catchment areas as a consequence of the schemes development over the past 100 years.

"The Waipori scheme is a sustainable electricity generation scheme which, because of its unusually high storage capacity relative to overall output, makes a significant contribution to the security of electricity supplies in the Otago region. The scheme has a long history of having been operated responsibly in the best interests of the wider community, and TrustPower has continued this responsible approach to resource management since its purchase of the scheme in 1998. We are pleased that the Resource Consent and subsequent Environment Court appeal processes have confirmed our position. In particular, it is pleasing that the Environment court has acknowledged that the scheme was developed for the purpose of generating electricity."

Mr Kedian said TrustPower looks forward to continuing its efforts to work constructively, within the boundaries set by the Resource Consent, to achieve the best outcomes for all stakeholders."

ENDS

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