STOCK EXCHANGE LISTINGS: NZX (MCY) / ASX (MCY)
NEWS RELEASE
Karāpiro dam road summer opening dates 28 Nov 2022 – The road across Mercury’s Karāpiro Dam which has been closed since August this year as part of the $75 million, six-year upgrade to the station will re-open at different periods over the summer. Dates the road will be open: 23 December 2022– 8 January 2023 (inclusive) 15 January 2023 – 23 January 2023 (inclusive) 4 February 2023 – 6 February 2023 (inclusive) The road will remain closed after Waitangi Day while work on replacement of the turbine headgates continues. Announcements of further re-opening dates will be made again closer the time. For more information: www.mercury.co.nz/karapiro-dam Background Construction of the Karapiro power station commenced in 1940 (during the second world war), and progress was impacted by war-related labour and materials shortages. It was completed in 1947 and commissioned in 1948. The Karapiro station comprises three identical Kaplan turbine generating units with a combined output of 96MW. The current program of works will increase overall peak station capacity by 17%, or 16.5MW, to 112.5MW (enough to power approximately 19,000 New Zealand homes) and average energy production by 32GWh to 537GWh per annum. As well as the headgate works, major areas for attention include the turbine, generators and governor systems. As a part of concurrent work to future proof the station, other items are also being addressed due to either age-related issues (by-pass valves and associated works) or legacy performance challenges (hydro intake gates and operating mechanisms, stoplogs). ENDS For media queries, please contact: Mercury Communications Team 027 210 5337 mercurycommunications@mercury.co.nz
ABOUT MERCURY NZ LIMITED
We generate electricity from 100% renewable sources: hydro, geothermal and wind. Our electricity generation sites are located along the Waikato River (hydro), the nearby steamfields of the northern part of the Central Plateau (geothermal) and in the Manawatū, South Taranaki and Otago regions (wind). We are currently building our Turitea wind farm in the Tararua Ranges of the Manawatū region, which will be New Zealand’s largest wind farm once complete. We have a pipeline of future wind development sites across the country. We are also a multi-product utility retailer of electricity, gas, broadband and mobile services through our retail brands (Mercury, Trustpower and GLOBUG), and are focussed on delivering wonderful solutions for New Zealanders at home, at work and on the move. Our mission, which guides us in what we do and why, is Energy Freedom for all. This is about Aotearoa New Zealand being stronger economically and more sustainable through better use of
homegrown, renewable energy. We’re listed on the New Zealand Stock Exchange and the Australian Stock Exchange with foreign exempt listed status. The New Zealand Government (the Crown) holds a legislated 51% shareholding in the Company. Visit us at: www.mercury.co.nz