March 2020
COVID-19 industry update
New Zealand is at COVID-19 Alert Level 4 which means that all non-essential services must close.
Importantly, our industry is continuing to provide natural gas as an essential service to New Zealand. We have developed plans to ensure we keep delivering heat, energy and electricity to homes, businesses and public facilities like schools and hospitals.
The health and welfare of staff, contractors and our local communities remain our highest priority.
PEPANZ is coordinating communication within the industry and with the Government, including the sharing of health advice and updates.
As part of this we are talking to our members and passing on any concerns or questions to the Government. If you have any issues you would like us to raise, please contact John@pepanz.com (021375061).
You can find official Government information about COVID-19 at this website.
Essential services update
The Government has released information on essential services continuing to operate. These include:
- Utilities and communications, including supply chains (electricity, gas, water, waste, fuel, telecommunication services, internet providers and media).
- Methanex to remain in production, but "at a scale consistent with stability of gas supply."
- Bunnings, Placemakers, Mitre 10 and other retailers essential to the supply chain for building and construction can stay open to trade customers for essential purposes only.
- The Tiwai Point smelter is exempt from closure.
- NZ Steel shut down in a way that allows for production to recommence easily.
- Pulp and paper plants to shut down non-essential elements in a way that allows for production to recommence easily while maintaining essential production.
- Ballance is open for business, Fonterra milk plants are operating and Refinery NZ also continues to operate.
Further details are in this update. WorkSafe has also released an update for businesses continuing to operate.
A Government helpline has been established for questions about essential services: 0508 377 388 or email essential@mbie.govt.nz
Wage subsidy and business support
Wage subsidies are now available for all employers significantly impacted by COVID-19 and struggling to retain employees as a result. The scheme is open to all businesses, including sole traders and the self-employed, registered charities and incorporated societies.
Wage subsidies will be available for any business that has experienced a minimum 30% decline in actual or predicted revenue over the period of a month, when compared with the same month last year, and that decline is related to COVID-19. Information on how to apply for the wage subsidy is available here.
Q&A on how the scheme works from BusinessNZ is available here, and advice and support via phone is available - numbers are here.
A range of financial support is also available from the Government including flexibility around depreciation and tax. Further information is available here.
Energy and Resources election forum
PEPANZ is organising an election forum with Straterra in Wellington later this year featuring the Minister of Energy and Resources, along with politicians from other major political parties.
We are also planning to hold an election-themed event for our members in New Plymouth with a guest speaker.
Of course, all of this is subject to any rules and regulations in place at the time. Stay tuned for more details to come.
Block Offer update
We understand the tender outcome for successful Block Offer 2018 bids were scheduled to be announced before 1 April 2020.
For Block Offer 2019, consultation with iwi and hapū has concluded and the tender will be launched "in the coming months".
This information comes from answers to recent Parliamentary questions to the Minister for Energy and Resources. Of course, all timings for this are now up in the year given changing Government priorities in light of COVID-19.
New report into 2018 exploration ban
The Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment Simon Upton has a released a new report today into the 2018 ban on new exploration permits beyond onshore Taranaki.
PEPANZ has welcomed the report as "a fair, honest and useful contribution that highlights some of the serious implications of the decision."
The report does not advocate for or against the ban. However, it concludes it will have a small and uncertain impact on global emissions" and is "is likely to impose costs on the economy in the billions of dollars."
PEPANZ member appointed to IPCC
PEPANZ member Sean Rush has been appointed as an Expert Reviewer for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) sixth assessment report, due in 2022.
Sean is an energy and infrastructure lawyer based in Wellington and last year completed the coursework required for a Masters in Climate Change Science and Policy through Victoria University of Wellington. He is writing his dissertation this year, and was also elected to the Wellington City Council last year.
PO Box 25259, Wellington 6146
