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Good morning.  It’s my pleasure to host you in Parliament for this morning’s Block Offer awards for 2015.

It is clear that this has been a challenging year for the sector.  New Zealand has, along with the rest of the world, felt the ramifications of the global commodity price, which has been lower for longer as a result of increased supply and decreased demand.

Energy and Resources Minister Simon Bridges today announced the award of nine new oil and gas exploration permits for Block Offer 2015.

Block Offer 2015 includes three onshore permits and six offshore permits, all in the Taranaki Basin.  Collectively the permits include a committed work programme expenditure of $4.4 million, with the potential of more than $364 million if all contingent work is realised.

New Zealand is the newest member of the Global Geothermal Alliance (GGA), Energy and Resources Minister Simon Bridges announced overnight in Paris.

The GGA is an initiative led by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) to increase geothermal electricity generation and the direct use of geothermal heat. The announcement of New Zealand’s membership of the GGA took place in Paris as part of the Climate Change Conference.

Associate Climate Change Issues Minister Simon Bridges will tomorrow travel to Paris, France to take part in the Paris Climate Change Conference.

“For the first time leaders will seek to agree a new binding climate change agreement that includes contributions from all major emitting countries.

“Ensuring maximum participation will be essential for putting the world on a path to keeping global temperature rise below two degrees.

Energy and Resources Minister Simon Bridges has welcomed the Electricity Authority’s report on the October 2014 outage at Penrose substation in Auckland.

“The Authority has conducted a thorough and detailed inquiry into the two-day outage.  This included drawing on a joint investigation by Vector, Transpower and independent experts, together with forensic analysis of the damaged cables,” Mr Bridges says.

Energy and Resources Minister Simon Bridges has announced that the Government’s latest programme of aeromagnetic surveys will begin soon in Nelson and Marlborough.

“The aim of these surveys is to build up comprehensive data on our minerals resources”, Minister Bridges says.

Energy and Resources Minister Simon Bridges has reappointed Tom Campbell as Chair of the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA), reappointed Elena Trout, and appointed Hon Phil Heatley as Members of the Authority.  All three appointments are for three years, effective from 1 February 2016.

EECA’s role is to encourage, promote, and support energy efficiency, energy conservation and the use of renewable energy resources in New Zealand.

An online tool aimed at demystifying the cost of running an electric vehicle (EV) has been officially launched by Transport and Energy and Resources Minister Simon Bridges this morning.

Speaking at the New Zealand Transport Fuels and Fleet Management Summit, Mr Bridges says research - by the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) and the Ministry of Transport - shows around half of corporate fleet managers do not have information comparing the running costs of EVs with petrol or diesel vehicles.

Good morning everyone.

Transitioning to a low carbon economy and making the most of technology are significant themes in both my energy and transport portfolios.

New Zealand faces transport and energy challenges.  We want to continue to grow our economy and help New Zealanders to prosper. This means we need secure and affordable energy, and a transport system that meets people’s needs. At the same time, we have to reduce our carbon emissions.

Good morning everyone, and thanks for the opportunity to present to you today. I’d like to start by talking a little about the role Government plays in ensuring the safe, efficient and reliable supply of transport fuels, minimising barriers to competition, and promoting a competitive market.

Of course, environmental outcomes are also very important.

Government’s role

As Energy Ministers, the delivery of resilient energy infrastructure is at the heart of what we do.

Climate-proofing that infrastructure is an increasingly important part of that work as we seek to understand the growing uncertainties and challenges presented by climate change and extreme weather events.

In New Zealand, the 2011 Canterbury Earthquake was a stark reminder of the devastating impact a natural disaster can have.  Here in the Philippines, Typhoon Haiyan wreaked havoc just two years ago.

Transport and Energy and Resources Minister, Simon Bridges, will attend APEC meetings in the Philippines this week, promoting economic cooperation and opportunities.

Mr Bridges will attend the 9th APEC Transportation Ministerial Meeting from 8-10 October, and the 12th APEC Energy Ministerial Meeting from 12-14 October.

The Transportation Ministerial Meeting includes sessions on investment, resilience, intelligent transport systems and clean technology.

Thank you all for having me here this morning to address you for the first time at your annual conference.

Smart Technology

I wanted to start by talking a little about smart technology and the increasingly important role is will play in your sector.

This is a time of great opportunity for New Zealand’s electricity sector and I commend the ENA for its efforts to promote greater innovation in New Zealand’s electricity market.

Energy and Resources Minister Simon Bridges has reappointed Dr Brent Layton as chair of the Electricity Authority and Susan Paterson and Elena Trout as members.

The Electricity Authority is an independent Crown entity established in November 2010 to replace the former Electricity Commission. 

It is responsible for governance and regulation of the electricity market and its objective is to promote competition, reliable supply, and the efficient operation of the electricity sector for the long term benefit of consumers.

Energy and Resources Minister Simon Bridges says it’s encouraging an experts’ electricity forum has endorsed the Government’s market-led approach to regulating the electricity sector.

The Smart Grid Forum, which was established last year to help advance smart electricity development in New Zealand, has released its first year-end report today.

Amongst its key findings is that New Zealand is well-positioned to adapt to new, smart technology that will help benefit consumers.

Block Offer 2016, the Government process for awarding oil and gas exploration permits, is underway, Energy and Resources Minister Simon Bridges says.

“Consultation now begins with iwi and local authorities in the areas being proposed for onshore and offshore exploration,” Mr Bridges says.

“This is an essential first step in the Block Offer process.  The feedback from these groups ensures that any areas of sensitivity are carefully considered before the tender round is finalised.”

The latest Energy in New Zealand (ENZ) report shows the proportion of renewable energy making up our domestic supply is at a record high, Energy and Resources Minister Simon Bridges says.

ENZ is the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment’s annual, flagship publication on key trends in the energy sector.

It shows that in 2014, renewable energy made up 39.5 per cent of New Zealand’s total primary energy supply. 

Genesis Energy’s decision to close its two remaining coal units by 2018 is a sign of the times and reflects the growth of New Zealand’s world-leading renewable energy industry, Energy and Resources Minister Simon Bridges says.

“Historically coal has played an important role in ensuring the security of New Zealand’s electricity supply, particularly in dry years where our hydro-lake levels are low.

Increased competition in the electricity market is continuing to benefit consumers, Energy and Resources Minister Simon Bridges says.

Today’s release of the 2014 residential electricity market performance review by the Electricity Authority shows consumers have more choice than ever and are saving more when they switch.

In 2014, more than 385,000 consumers switched retailers, with average savings of $162 a year.

“The data shows that, across all regions, there were savings to be made for consumers who switched providers,” Mr Bridges says.

It’s good to be back at the Minerals West Coast Forum to speak to you all again.

This is the third time I have spoken at the forum and it’s a special privilege to be here to mark the 150th year of mining on the West Coast. This region was founded on mining and the industry has a rich history which we should celebrate.

Let me begin by saying again how important the minerals industry is to the Government and to New Zealand.

Minerals make an important contribution to our economy

Energy and Resources Minister, Simon Bridges, says a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed today will strengthen the strategic partnership in renewable energy research and development between New Zealand and Japan.

Mr Bridges witnessed the signing of the MOU, between New Zealand’s GNS Science and the Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation (JOGMEC) during his visit to Tokyo this week.  The MOU establishes the basis for cooperation in geothermal energy.

Transport Minister Simon Bridges will promote New Zealand as a test bed for Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) and new investments through a range of meetings in the USA and Japan this week.

On the first leg of his trip, Mr Bridges will meet with major vehicle manufacturers and businesses at the cutting-edge of transport and energy technologies in Silicon Valley, California.

“I believe New Zealand has strong potential as a test-bed for new transport technologies, something I am keen to promote to the USA.

Energy and Resources Minister Simon Bridges today congratulates OMV on their successful completion of the Maari Growth campaign in offshore Taranaki.

“OMV have announced that their drilling campaign is now completed, with the capacity of the Maari field expected to double to 20,000 barrels a day,” Mr Bridges says.

Four new wells were drilled during the project, with an investment of around $500 million.  The project was the first to be granted a marine consent for offshore development drilling through the Environmental Protection Authority.

Climate Change Issues Minister Tim Groser and Energy and Resources Minister, Simon Bridges, today welcomed an International Energy Agency (IEA) report on energy and climate change. Minister Groser is special adviser on climate change to the International Energy Agency.

The report highlights that world greenhouse gas emissions from energy production and use are double the level of greenhouse gas emissions from all other sources. It suggests a number of strategies to reduce these.