VOLCANIC POWER

Chronicle (Levin), 22 January 1949, Page 5

VOLCANIC POWER

Press Association) • ;

May Equal Output Of The Waikato Installations

(Per

WELLINGTON, Jan. 21. , If the suceess' achieved at Larderello in Italy eould be attained in New: .Zealand the"amount of' power generated: from volcanic steam would be equal to the output of all the hydro-electric in- . stallations on the Waikato River, saul the Minister of Works (Hon. R. Sempie) today. Mr. Semple Avas discussing the visits made to Italy by Air. E. R. MeKiilop, Commissioner of Works, and Mr. M. Ongley, Director of the Geologocal Survey Departnient, to study the Avork done in harnessing thernmi aetivity afl Lardei'elle. Unti-1 t he had, received ful-1 -report'S from Messrs. MeKiilop and Ongley he was unable to announce a plan of deveiopnient, but he Avas greatly impressed, by the optimism of these tAvo experts on their retnrn to New Zealand. Air. Ongley had told him that the marked similarity in the geelogical character of Larderello and our owi» thermal region aniply warranted the eommeneeinent of a-full-scale investi gation of the loeal poten-tialities. The area to be 'mapped, however, was fairiy extensive and involved the mapping uf the volcanic belt stretching from W'hite Island to Taupo. This would haye to be done systematically to secure a re iiable pieture of the formation, strati graphy and general -structure of • tluarea to aseertain whether or not the structure of earth was suitable for .thcollection of steam under pressure. In Mr. Ongley 's opinion there seem ed littl£ doubt that the orig'in oi volcanic steam was sitnated at a con siderable depth, but it was diflieult to estimate at this stage the depth oi drilling that Avould be necessary to secure its praetical ntilisation. The Itaiian supply canie .generally from u depth of 200 metres, although the experimental bore they uoav proposed would go down to 3000 nretres. Tht results of these experiments might be of partieular value to NeAV Zealand in event of it being found neeessarv to go to similar depths here. Atr. Semple said Mr. Ongley had received every assistanee from the Itaiian geologists aa'Iio had a suprising lygood knoAvI,edge of our OAvn t her mai regions. Experimental work and research in the generation of power hau r been" going on in Italy for about 50 '.years hnd Afr. Ongley I19.S received an |. assnr.ance of the Itaiian people that the f ull benefits of this experience could be made available to NeAV Zealand. Mr. i Semple said Air. AleKiilop, AA'ho had : also visited Larderello^ had giA'en an oral report on his retnrn. % . ' v "The problem of' utilising. VQ'jeanic' , heat for poAver production in NeAV Zealand," Mr. ,Semple eoncluded, "is not one of simple solutiqn. There are a number of techn'ichT faetors to be considered on Avhich at the present timi' the Government had insuflicient inforhnation. If, however, these problems c-an be shtisfaetorily overcome a very substantial increment to onr power potential will be available J-'