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Energy and Resources Minister Phil Heatley today welcomed the launch in Canterbury of a campaign to raise energy awareness.

The Christchurch Agency for Energy (CAfE) has launched EA12, a public awareness programme for 2012, starting with events in April and May.

“I applaud CAfE’s initiative, which will help Cantabrians use energy more efficiently and encourage them to look for opportunities to use renewable energy.

This is one of the first chances that I have had as Minister to meet senior people from a very important sector of the renewable electricity generation industry. I’m looking forward to getting to know your business better.

I thought I’d start with the big picture.

New Zealand is a fortunate country in its range of energy resources: we’ve got minerals, oil and gas, wind, hydro and geothermal in various stages of development – it’s a long and exciting list.

Energy and Resources Minister Phil Heatley has welcomed the inquiry into fracking announced today by Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment Jan Wright.

“I look forward to the results of this inquiry. It will enable us to move forward with confidence and a clear understanding of what’s fact and what’s fiction,” Mr Heatley said.

“This inquiry will enable us to consider all our options around fracking, from the consenting process through to work in the field.

Good morning, and thank you for your invitation to address this conference.  I commend you for your choice of theme – Smart Cities – which is so very relevant to the Christchurch rebuild.  You’ve assembled a very interesting line-up of speakers.

As I am relatively new to the Energy and Resources portfolio, I am also pleased to have the opportunity to get to know the Energy Management Association a little better.  Building issues are of course more familiar to me because of my role as Minister of Housing.

The contribution of renewable energy sources to total annual electricity generation increased to 77 per cent in 2011 from 74 per cent in 2010, Energy and Resources Minister Phil Heatley announced today.

“This is another positive step towards the Government’s goal of 90 per cent renewable generation by 2025,” Mr Heatley said.

Wind generation increased to 4.5 per cent total generation in 2011, and geothermal generation increased to 13.4 per cent of total generation.

Energy and Resources Minister Phil Heatley heads overseas today to attend the 13th International Energy Forum Ministerial Meeting in Kuwait.

The IEF is the world’s largest gathering of Energy Ministers. Its 88 member countries account for 90 per cent of global oil and gas supply and demand. It is the world’s leading forum for producer/consumer dialogue within the global energy sector, and on energy issues affecting the world.

The Government welcomes the news of the sale of Pike River Mine to Solid Energy, Energy and Resources Minister Phil Heatley said today.

“This is a positive step towards a commercial re-opening of the mine. We expect Solid Energy to commit to use its best endeavours to recover the bodies of the deceased miners.

“Any plan for re-opening the mine and recovering the bodies will need to be safe and credible. The Government is not prepared to see any further lives lost at the mine,” says Mr Heatley.

The Government is asking New Zealanders for feedback on proposals to improve the legislation governing oil, gas and mineral permitting.

Minister of Energy and Resources Phil Heatley today released a discussion paper outlining the proposed changes to the Crown Minerals Act 1991, and associated regulations and programmes.

“Energy and mineral resources are major export earners for New Zealand and there is huge potential for them to contribute even more to the economy,” he said.

Good morning and thank you for your invitation to give the opening address at your 2012 Forum.

This is the first chance that I have had, since taking up the Energy and Resources portfolio, to meet with a cross-section of senior people from the energy industry. It is good to be here.

I thought that I would talk first about an important milestone that occurred in the past few months, and which will have a major impact on shaping the way in which the energy industry moves forward over the next few years.

Energy and Resources Minister Phil Heatley today welcomed moves by the Ministry of Economic Development to consult on the exploration potential of the Northland region’s mineral resources.

The consultation process formally begins today on specific areas proposed to be included in a competitive tender for metallic mineral exploration permits. This is the first step of a new economic opportunity for the region, Mr Heatley said.

Energy and Resources Minister Phil Heatley has welcomed the latest “block offer” process for awarding oil and gas exploration permits in selected areas, released today by the Ministry of Economic Development. The 2012 proposed block offer covers 25 areas.

“While we don’t necessarily expect exploration to be undertaken in all the blocks on offer this year, this is an important step in developing New Zealand’s significant resource wealth,” the Minister said.

The Government is welcoming a likely $250 million a year increase to exports and the 500 additional construction jobs as part of the agreement announced this afternoon by the Todd Corporation and Methanex New Zealand to increase methanol production in Taranaki.

Methanex is entering into a 10 year contract with Todd that enable it to restart the second methanol manufacturing train at its Motunui facility, north of New Plymouth.

New Zealand has secured oil reserves for 2012 that ensure the country will continue to meet its international obligations, Energy and Resources Minister Phil Heatley announced today.

“As a member of the International Energy Agency, New Zealand is required to hold 90-days of stock of the previous year’s net oil imports,” says Mr Heatley.

“New Zealand's total 90-day obligation for 2012 is 1.1 million tonnes. The majority of these reserves are commercial stocks held by companies in the oil and gas sector,” says Mr Heatley.