July 2021
New partnership to develop energy skills
A new skills partnership has been launched in Taranaki to ensure we have skilled energy people to support the transition to lower emissions.
Energy Skills Aotearoa (as part of Energy Resources Aotearoa) and Te Pūkenga (New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to work together on this challenge.
“We have to support, retain and retrain our current highly-skilled workforce who will be crucial in this transition," says Energy Resources Aotearoa Skills Manager Sheree Long.
The first step will be an industry skills action plan to be led by Energy Skills and supported by Te Pūkenga, developed for the broader energy sector including both renewable and non-renewable companies.
Meet the CE: Gretta Stephens
Our next Meet the Chief Executive event features New Zealand Steel's Gretta Stephens on Thursday 5th August.
As a major energy user, what are the challenges for New Zealand Steel in dealing with high energy prices? What are their plans for decarbonisation, and how important is a domestic steel industry to New Zealand?
A presentation will be followed by questions and discussion from the floor and a light lunch.
This event is kindly hosted by Russell McVeagh. Tickets are essential and free for Energy Resources Aotearoa members.
New members signal new era
Energy Resources Aotearoa is proud to welcome two new members, including our first major industrial user in Oji Fibre Solutions.
A S Harrison is a knowledge-based agency and distribution business, importing and distributing a unique portfolio of specialty chemicals to the oil and gas industry throughout New Zealand. Their head office is in Sydney and they also have an office in Auckland.
Oji Fibre Solutions is a leading producer of market pulp, paper and fibre based packaging. In New Zealand they are the major manufacturer of kraft pulps, packaging papers and a range of packaging products for local and global markets.
We are proud to welcome our new members and think it is a positive reflection on our new strategy. This reflects our focus on the wider, inter-connected energy sector including both producers and users.
Meet the CE: Marc England
A large audience of over 50 people attended our 'Meet the Chief Executive' event with Contact Energy's Marc England earlier this month.
A key topic covered was the challenges in providing affordable, reliable and low carbon energy as we transition to lower emissions.
England warned that declining gas supplies are “fundamental” to the energy shortage the country still faces, and this shortage may continue to cause pain for the next few years.
Policy settings hurting gas investment
A lack of confidence in policy settings is holding back much-needed investment into natural gas supply, according to a wide range of companies and organisations.
The views are expressed in submissions to the Gas Industry Company (GIC) who are conducting a review into gas market settings. Some of the comments include:
Todd Energy: "The lack of investment in natural gas development will lead to imported coal replacing gas for security of supply for electricity and closure of companies that provide jobs and incomes for regional economies as well as economic wealth for New Zealand."
Methanex: “We believe the Government ban on new offshore exploration permits has caused a reduction in investment in New Zealand and will increase global greenhouse gas emissions due to the continued use of coal in New Zealand and around the world."
Energy Resources Aotearoa: "Given existing and signalled policy settings and field decline, no one at all should be surprised that New Zealand faces the prospect of a massive and growing energy gap and that policy needs to change if this is to be avoided."
To help improve the situation, we are recommending a stable policy and regulatory environment with long-term bipartisan predictability to give firms the confidence to invest. As part of this we'd like to see:
- a fuel and technology neutral approach
- a focus on net emissions rather than gross
- the ETS prioritised as the best tool for reducing emissions
- a Government-industry accord.
