New Zealand energy company Mercury has suspended construction of the Turitea wind farm in Manawatu as a result of the coronavirus.
The decision is in line with the New Zealand government’s COVID-19 directions to suspend all non-essential construction work, the company said.
Mercury said it will monitor COVID-19 response levels, and work with contractors Vestas, Electrix and Transpower to re-start construction at an “appropriate time”.
Mercury chief executive William Meek said the company’s focus must be on the safety and wellbeing of its people while maintaining energy supply and services to its customers.
He said: “As non-essential construction work must be halted as part of New Zealand’s response to COVID-19, Mercury in conjunction with its contractors has immediately started securing its Turitea wind farm construction site and putting a temporary hold on certain other work currently in progress.”
The first 119MW phase of Turitea was scheduled to be generating electricity by the second half of this year, with the second 113MW stage coming online in late 2021.
“Commissioning is expected to be delayed by the duration of any suspension although efforts will be made to accelerate work if and when safe and practical to do so,” Mercury said.
The first phase will feature 33 Vestas V112-3.6MW turbines, while the second stage will comprise V112 3.8MW hardware.