New Zealand state-owned power company Transpower New Zealand has contracted Australian infrastructure firm Ventia to provide electrical and telecommunication services for New Zealand’s national electricity grid.
Under the contract, Ventia will be responsible for operating, maintaining and providing services for the country’s grid, which Transpower owns and operates.
The five-year contract will begin in August this year and could be extended for another five years.
Ventia is expected to generate revenue of approximately NZ$300m ($195m) over the initial five-year contract period.
The company will operate in two regions, covering the lower North Island and upper South Island, and will also have the opportunity to provide capital projects across all regions as part of panel agreements.
Ventia will be operating under a Transmission Grid Services contract and membership of the Contestable Work Panels.
The Australian company has been working with Transpower for more than 25 years.
Ventia Group CEO Dean Banks said: “Ventia is delighted to continue our long-term partnership with Transpower, providing highly skilled and specialist services to meet the current and future needs of New Zealand’s electricity grid.
“This contract renewal is testament to our commitment to redefine service excellence and to provide Transpower and communities in New Zealand with innovative and sustainable solutions.
“We look forward to our role in enabling Transpower’s strategy towards a renewable, electrified, low-carbon economy.”
Banks added that Ventia is a ‘trusted partner’ to some of the region’s largest owners and operators of energy and other essential infrastructure.
Last February, Transpower agreed to supply, install and commission a substation and install a 220kV grid connection for the Harapaki Wind Farm, which is located offshore from New Zealand.
The 176MW wind farm is being built by New Zealand-based renewable generation company Meridian Energy. It will be the country’s second largest wind farm once completed.
