|  Methanex New Zealand owns two methanol facilities in the province of Taranaki on the west coast of the North Island. They are known as the Motunui and Waitara Valley sites. Total production capability of the two facilities is 2.4 million tonnes per year. More than 90% of the methanol produced in New Zealand is sold for export to markets in Japan, Korea and China.
Methanex’s Motunui facility has two methanol production trains. Methanex is currently operating the Motunui #2 plant which was restarted in 2008 after being idled in 2004 due to limited gas availability. In January 2012, the company announced plans to restart the Motunui #1 plant by mid-2012. This will provide the company with 1.5 million tonnes of operational capacity at the Motunui site. The restart project will provide upwards of 400 contract jobs over the duration of the project and will benefit the local economy via sourcing of New Zealand and Taranaki labour, equipment and materials.
The Waitara Valley plant is currently idle.
The head office for Methanex New Zealand is based in Auckland. The Marketing and Logistics office for Asia Pacific is located in Hong Kong.
Methanex is an active and enthusiastic contributor to the social and cultural development of the local communities where it operates through a variety
of social
responsibility programs.
Methanex New Zealand is firmly committed to the principles and ethic of Responsible
Care®, operating above the stringent requirements laid down by local and central government.
Before the plants were built, Environmental Impact Assessments were carried out to ensure that the environment would not be harmed by methanol plants operating in the area. The plants operate under permits issued by the local councils which clearly set out the level of noise that can be emitted and what can be discharged to the air or waterways. The Taranaki Regional Council and New Plymouth District Council conduct independent monitoring to ensure that the company is adhering to its permits.
Both plants have won awards for environmental excellence and industrial safety. In 2010, Methanex New Zealand was the proud recipient of Responsible Care New Zealand’s (formerly NZ Chemical Industry Council) “Responsible Care® Outstanding Achievement Award” that recognized the company’s achievement of 10 years without a Lost Time Injury among its employees.
For more information about Methanex New Zealand please contact:
Zaneta Ewashko
Manager, Public Affairs
Methanex New Zealand Ltd
Main North Road,
Waitara
Private Bag 2011
New Plymouth 4342
T: +64 6 754 9700
F: +64 6 754 9701
nzpublicaffairs@methanex.com
New Zealand Marketing Office
The Methanex Asia
Pacific marketing office is now located in Hong
Kong. |
Methanex in New Zealand