ACIL Consulting, in association with Farrier Swier Consulting, have been commissioned to assist the Government’s review of the New Zealand gas sector.

Minister of Energy Pete Hodgson announced the review and its terms of reference in March. Tenders were sought from independent consultancies in April.

The review will assess the overall efficiency of the gas sector and the current regulatory environment. It will also cover issues relating to gas take-or-pay contracts, including their effect on the efficiency of gas use.

Mr Hodgson said the Government had decided to use a consultancy to ensure it got international quality advice on the technically complex issues in the gas sector.

ACIL and Farrier Swier will approach key industry participants to obtain information and hear their views.

"After ACIL has reported, I will publicly release a discussion paper seeking submissions from the public and interested parties," Mr Hodgson said.

Following this consultation, policy options are expected to be considered by the Government later in 2001.

Ends

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Gordon Campbell: On the Sony cyber attack

Given the layers of meta-irony involved, the saga of the Sony cyber attack seemed at the outset more like a snarky European art film than a popcorn entry at the multiplex.

Yet now with (a) President Barack Obama weighing in on the side of artistic freedom and calling for the US to make a ‘proportionate response’quickly followed by (b) North Korea’s entire Internet service going down, and with both these events being followed by (c) Sony deciding to backtrack and release The Interview film that had made it a target for the dastardly North Koreans in the first place, then ay caramba…the whole world will now be watching how this affair pans out. More>>