Tiwai Point should be developed into a green hydrogen plant, Ngai Tahu suggests.
Rio Tinto has indicated it plans to close the Tiwai Point aluminium smelter next year and Ngai Tahu kaumatua Sir Tipene O’Regan says it’s ideal for a green hydrogen plant using electricity from Manapouri.
Prime minister Jacinda Ardern was at the Murihiku Marae in Invercargill on September 28 where O’Regan spoke to a meeting through a video link about the desire to transition Tiwai into a green hydrogen plant, Stuff reports.
He says a key reason is to maintain substantial overseas exports through the energy produced.
O’Regan says Ngai Tahu has invested heavily in Southland and wants to continue that investment.
The New Zealand Hydrogen Association earlier pitched the idea of using Tiwai Point for hydrogen production, while the site has also been plugged as having potential for a Tesla Gigafactory.
