Stop LNG in Port Taranaki

Taranaki Energy Watch, Climate Justice Taranaki, and Community Energy Taranaki

invite you to a public meeting where the issues around importing LNG (Liquefied

Natural Gas) will be discussed:

- The nature of LNG

- Risks to human safety

- The undemocratic process

- The financial cost burden

- Environmental effects

- NZ climate commitment

- Existing energy solutions

Our speakers are:

Sarah Roberts, Taranaki Energy Watch, has been involved in successful Environment Court cases for over a decade, concerning significant hazardous facilities in Taranaki.

Steve Goldthorpe, Sustainable Energy Forum, an energy systems analyst, has provided commentary on LNG issues for over a decade.

Laura MacKay, Lawyers for Climate Action, will discuss legal issues around the proposal

Mike Casey, Rewiring Aotearoa, dedicated to electrifying NZ, will present some positive alternatives, and Steve Francis, Community Energy Taranaki, will provide information on local initiatives.

On 9th June, the government announced that it had shortlisted two providers to build an LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) import facility inside Port Taranaki. It aims to sign a deal this year while accelerating the LNG Enabling Bill to facilitate the granting of consents. This is a bad idea.

1. The low probability high impact fatality and injury risks and consequences of a major LNG facility at Port Taranaki are unacceptable to residents.

At the Port Kembla LNG facility in NSW, the worst-case scenarios of a flash fire extend to nearly 2 km and toxic odorant effects out to 2.5 km. There are ~3,000 homes, ten schools and childcare centres within 2 km of where the facility may be sited here. Most of the New Plymouth hospital and more schools are within 2.5 km.

2. An ‘Enabling’ legislation would bypass normal process, allowing the LNG facility to be built and operational by 2027or early 2028.

This rushed process does not allow appropriate safety risk analyses, environmental impact assessment, cost-benefit comparisons with alternatives, or public consultation. The government has yet to figure out how to pay for the $1-$2.7 billion facility. Clearly there will be a cost burden on New Zealanders. This is imprudent and unfair.

3. LNG imports would expose NZ to volatile fossil fuel markets, resulting in disruptive gas and electricity costs.

The world is becoming more unstable. Asia LNG prices have jumped ~140% since the US-Israeli war with Iran began in February, the second major spike in four years. The current electricity market structure means that this expensive gas would set the price of wholesale power most of the time.

4. LNG imports would prolong NZ’s reliance on fossil gas and emissions.

Rather than ignoring our climate commitments, support small gas users to transition off gas and diversify our economy to more local, less energy demanding industries.

5. There are far better solutions to the ‘dry year’ risk.

Shifting energy demand off peak, accelerating renewable energy generation, conservation and storage along with seasonal firming technologies, would be cleaner, cheaper and more empowering solutions for communities.