Mercury notes Rio Tinto’s announcement to wind-down operations at New Zealand Aluminium Smelters Limited (NZAS) with
expected closure in August 2021.
Mercury reiterates previously made statements that it is relatively well placed to respond to the decision to close the
smelter, with all of its renewable generation assets in the North Island close to load centres and largely free of major
transmission constraints as a consequence of reduced South Island electricity demand.
Mercury is confident that the sector will adapt to the closure of the smelter, invest in new transmission and develop
new electricity demand to rebalance New Zealand’s electricity system.