en.Wedoany.com Reported - New Zealand's Environment Court has finally approved Meridian Energy to continue operating the Waitaki Power Scheme for 35 years.

The new resource consent allows the company to maintain existing water storage levels, operating conditions, and generation capacity. The Waitaki Power Scheme is New Zealand's largest and most flexible hydroelectric system, consisting of six power stations with a total installed capacity of 1,553 megawatts, accounting for nearly 30% of the country's hydroelectric installed capacity.

Meridian Energy Chief Executive Mike Roan said this decision is significant for the national power system. "The Waitaki Power Scheme has long been the backbone of New Zealand's electricity system, and changing its operation would have a huge impact on every New Zealander."

Roan said: "Hydroelectric power is the cheapest and cleanest stability solution for New Zealand's electricity system. Being able to continue operating the Waitaki Power Scheme for the next 35 years provides certainty for businesses, the power system, and the economy. It also means we can increase efforts to explore opportunities for adding more water storage and generation capacity."

Meridian Energy said it will immediately implement the new consent, which includes an expanded native biodiversity management plan implemented across the catchment through the Department of Conservation.

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