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Tim Shadbolt unhappy with Tiwai Point closure

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Thu, 9 Jul 2020, 8:24PM
Sir Tim Shadbolt. (Photo / NZME)
Sir Tim Shadbolt. (Photo / NZME)

Tim Shadbolt unhappy with Tiwai Point closure

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Thu, 9 Jul 2020, 8:24PM

The Invercargill mayor does not think enough has been done to keep Rio Tinto in the South Island. 

Rio Tinto has announced its New Zealand Aluminium Smelters company will wind up operations in August 2021 - due to high power costs and poor outlooks for the industry.

The Tiwai Point plant employs a thousand workers directly - and has created 1600 jobs in the wider community.

Invercargill mayor Sir Tim Shadbolt told Heather du Plessis-Allan that the company should have been given fairer transmission costs. 

"They don't want cash, they don't want subsidies. All they are asking for is fair costs." 

He says they are charged $461 million to get power transmitted through the Cook Strait. 

Shadbolt says that it is an area where things need another look at. 

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