A 2739 square kilometre block of land on Hamilton's southern doorstep could
be offered for commercial gas exploration under a new Government proposal.
The block – taking in large parts of the Waikato and Waipa districts – is one
of 25 the Ministry of Economic Development wants to offer nationwide to oil and
gas exploration companies in an annual competitive tender process that will
overtake the present first-in, first-served permit allocation system.
The ministry believes the Waikato block could interest companies specialising
in extracting "coal seam gas" from coal, a commodity in which the region has
proved rich.
Waikato's coal industry is based north of Hamilton but the proposed block
would not be a new frontier for exploration, said Kevin Rolens, director of
ministry unit NZ Petroleum and Minerals. Three companies, including Solid
Energy, already had permits to explore for petroleum in the general area.
Stuff.Co
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