Todd Energy is planning to build an LPG plant investing a $65 million with total gas production capacity of 27,000 tonnes per year. The proposed LPG plant will come up at its McKee Production Station site in Taranaki for supplying 45 kilo gas bottles. The required gas would be outsourced from Mangahewa and Pokohura fields of the company.

The gas produced from the plant would be delivered through its 50,000 customer-strong retail company Nova Energy. Nova Energy has already signed dual gas/electricity supply deal with 6000 new customers under its door-to-door marketing plans. Contactors for the projects have already been short-listed by the firm and work at the site is expected to start very soon.

Todd Energy, the largest electricity generation company, has facilities at Edgecumbe, Kapuni, Whareroa and New Plymouth in New Zealand. Managing Director Richard Tweedie said: "Todd Energy has over 50 years' experience in the Taranaki energy industry and we consider Taranaki our home. We will certainly ensure all reasonable steps are taken to minimize the impact of the project."

He hailed the choice of location for setting up the plant, adding that it would make optimum use of exiting infrastructure.