I have to confess I only partially succeeded when I got everybody on Zoom last week. Rosemary was away and we were relying on the technologically challenged person, me.
We were all able to talk to each other in the wonderful session led by Roger Sutton. However, despite pushing the button “record” I somehow didn’t push something else. Rosemary has undertaken a deep dive into my computer and has been forced to shake her head and say I’ve stuffed up. My apology for those who have contacted me because they were unable to attend the other evening.
My only plea in mitigation is that Rosemary is back this week, having gone to Wellington last week for Ruth Dyson’s valedictory.
Roger spoke about his research paper which he undertook as a student at the joint centre for Resource Management. He won an award for this paper where he demonstrated that the smelter was never an economic proposition from the start. Somebody please send this message to Winston.
The talk, and subsequent questions, covered the use of the spare electricity. The enormous opportunity to promote electricity rich industries in the South Island. The opportunity to replace the coal fired boilers at two large milk treatment plants in the South Island. The energy effects of double glazing and insulating every home in New Zealand. The conversation was wide ranging and very educating on the structures of our electricity system.
It was a sobering observation by Roger that he is pleased that the old NZED still isn’t in place as he feels that this organisation would have given into the latest pressure from Rio Tinto, just as they did when the original negotiations played into this multinational company’s hands.
In the absence of people being able to watch the discussion I thought this article raised a few issues which are worth consideration:
https://www.newsroom.co.nz/comment/five-possible-replacements-for-aluminium-at-tiwai
The best thing for me about the talk last week was to see my old mate, Roger Sutton, with his mojo back. Thanks, Roger, for a great session.
Leave a Reply