POWER FOR KINLEITH

Taupo Times, Volume II, Issue 92, 23 October 1953, Page 8

POWER FOR KINLEITH

Kinleith, Taupo's neighbour on the Taupo - Putaruru - Auckland Highway, is destined to be recognised as the home of the pulp and paper industry in New Zealand. The huge scale of this enterprise is reflected in figures as to the amount of electric power consumed. The power is supplied over a new 110,000 volt line, and the capacity i of the sub-station which breaks I down the voltage is 10,000 k.w. with provision for an increase. It is estimated that N.Z. Forest Products j will pay approximately £100,000 yearly for hydro-electric power. It is the largest private consumer of power in New Zealand. When the pulp and paper mills are fully operative power consumption will be 45 million units yearly. A total of 560 electric motors delivering approximately 14,000 h.p. will be used when the pulp and paper mills are both operating. Of this number, 110 are at present operating in tfie sawmills, 225 in the pulp mill and 150 in the paper mill, while 75 will be used for other purposes. Motors range from a fraction of a horse-power to the largest of 700 h.p. which drives the paper machine. Another indication of the, size of the Kinleith project is the fact that the Railways Department at present hauls outl of Kinleith products at the rate of 95,830 tons annually. When the pulp and paper mills become fully operative this year the total outward tonnage is likely to exceed 140,000 tons annually. In addition there will be considerable inward trafhc in coal and chemicals for use in the pulp and paper mills.