stringtranslate.com

Mangahao Power Station

Mangahao Power Station is a hydroelectric power station near the town of Shannon, New Zealand. After being delayed by war, access road construction and foundation testing was started by late 1919 and the station opened in November 1924.[1] It makes use of the Mangahao River, through a series of tunnels and pipelines totalling 4.8 kilometers in the Tararua Ranges. It is jointly owned and operated by Todd Energy and King Country Energy.[1][2]

Mangahao Hydro Electric Power Station opening (3 November 1924)

History

When commissioned, Mangahao Power Station had cost £1,493,456,[3] caused the deaths of 8 tunnellers from carbon monoxide poisoning,[4] an explosion[5] and crushing,[6] and was the main power station serving the lower North Island, with transmission lines connecting Mangahao with Wellington, Palmerston North, Whanganui, Masterton, Napier and Hastings. The power station was connected through to the Waikaremoana hydro scheme in 1929 and through to Arapuni Dam in 1934, forming the basis of the North Island transmission grid.[1]

Mangahao was officially opened by the Prime Minister, William Massey, on 3 November 1924. It was one of his last public duties before he died. Supply expanded as transmission equipment was built:[3][7]

The scheme was first considered by Peter Seton Hay and developed by Frederick Kissel.[1] Earthquake strengthening was done in 1983 and 2015.[9] In 2004[10] the original two smaller generating sets were replaced by a 26 MW (35,000 hp) Francis turbine unit and, with upgrades, the station capacity is now 38 MW (51,000 hp).[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "Mangahao Power Station". Engineering New Zealand. Retrieved 19 August 2022.
  2. ^ Information panel next to Mangahao Road before power station
  3. ^ a b "AtoJs Online — Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives — 1925 Session I — D-01 PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT BY THE HON. J. G. COATES, MINISTER OF PUBLIC WORKS". atojs.natlib.govt.nz. 1925. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
  4. ^ "Terrible Tunnel Tragedy At Mangahao Works SHANNON NEWS". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 4 July 1922. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  5. ^ "FATALITY AT MANGAHAO. MANAWATU STANDARD". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 3 August 1921. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  6. ^ "TUNNEL FATALITY. AUCKLAND STAR". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 30 August 1923. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  7. ^ "AtoJs Online — Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives — 1926 Session I — D-01 PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT (BY THE HON. K. S. WILLIAMS, MINISTER OF PUBLIC WORKS)". atojs.natlib.govt.nz. 1926. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
  8. ^ "AtoJs Online — Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives — 1927 Session I — D-01 PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT (BY THE HON. K. S. WILLIAMS, MINISTER OF PUBLIC WORKS)". atojs.natlib.govt.nz. 1927. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
  9. ^ "Mangahao Hydroelectric Power Station". www.heritage.org.nz. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  10. ^ "2011 NZ Generation Data Update" (PDF). Ministry of Economic Development. 26 January 2012.

Further reading

External links

Media related to Mangahao Power Station at Wikimedia Commons