2026 Fuel Prices & Security of Supply

Forums › Transport (cars, bikes and boats) › 2026 Fuel Prices & Security of Supply

1 | ... | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | ... | 64

1230 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 812

Subscriber

#3470390 15-Mar-2026 11:11

mattwnz:

Yeah, lots of work for construction but few workers likely needed once operational. It’s a bit like all these solar farms being installed. Also they never consider end of life and do these things become an eyesore at end of life. Or are they required to remove them and if so who pays.

Reinstating a solar farm (assuming they don't just replace the panels at EOL) is a shitload easier than green-fielding the likes of Methanex or other fossil fuel based facilities. I helped construct Methanex and know that reinstating that place will cost huge dollars.

For solar farms I imagine it would be a case of removal of the panels and support structures for recycling and refencing and installing water supply for return to farming.

https://www.harmlesssolutions.co.nz/

wellygary

8816 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 5300

#3470405 15-Mar-2026 13:27

There is an awful lot of $billion "blue skying" going on in all the articles, but personally I think the chances of someone dropping a 280MW data centre into Southland in one shot is remote...I suspect it will be more gradual,

Here's an article form when this was originally floated in 2022, and I think is more realistic in terms of what will turn up..

The consent, which Datagrid expects to apply for early this year, would be for a facility of up to 10 modules, each of 6500 square metres, which if all built would cover an area of about nine rugby pitc
Galasso said between 800 and 1200 workers would be needed to build and kit-out the data centre during peak construction.
“We expect to start construction as soon as we get resource consent from Southland District Council, hopefully in the second half of this year,” he said.
The initial build would probably be for one module, costing more than $100m, which should be complete by the end of next year, he said.
The resource consent application would allow the data centre to consume up to 150 megawatts of power, which is more than a quarter of the power currently used by Southland’s Tiwai Point aluminium smelter.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/127020332/land-bought-for-1-billion-bid-to-turn-southland-into-global-it-hub

mattwnz

20520 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 4798

#3470462 15-Mar-2026 14:56

HarmLessSolutions:

mattwnz:

Yeah, lots of work for construction but few workers likely needed once operational. It’s a bit like all these solar farms being installed. Also they never consider end of life and do these things become an eyesore at end of life. Or are they required to remove them and if so who pays.

Reinstating a solar farm (assuming they don't just replace the panels at EOL) is a shitload easier than green-fielding the likes of Methanex or other fossil fuel based facilities. I helped construct Methanex and know that reinstating that place will cost huge dollars.

For solar farms I imagine it would be a case of removal of the panels and support structures for recycling and refencing and installing water supply for return to farming.

That is true, however if it is left derelict and over years bits start flying off them in big winds etc and it becomes an eyesore, it will likely be ratepayers or government that end up cleaning it up. We are possibly taking decades into the future. I am not sure if an end of life bond should be paid, that builds up over time as it makes money. The land owner who is likely renting out their land likely wouldn't be able to afford to remove them, and most of them seem to want to lease farmland, probably because they aren't permitted to buy it due to them often being overseas companies setting them up. Really it is is the scale of these things often in prime rural scenic land, and tourists probably don't want to see them either. Whether they should also be restricted to certain areas. There does seem to be a lack of planning for where they should go, but I know that in some rural communities they don't want them setting up.

HarmLessSolutions

1230 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 812

Subscriber

#3470464 15-Mar-2026 15:12

It would appear my assumptions are correct. See p10 of this application document for a solar farm soon to be installed near me.(My bolding)

"Effects on Highly Productive Land -

The solar panel mounting structures will be pile driven or screwed into the ground, leaving the pasture underneath in place. Pasture is naturally retained
as water runs off the panels and drains into the soil, and sunlight reaching ground level remains available due to the separation of the panels. This
ensures that while the solar panels are in-situ, the site can continue to be utilised for pastoral farming, more specifically, the grazing of sheep. The
landowner (or a lessee) will continue to farm the land for this purpose. At the end of life of the solar panels, the panels can either be unscrewed and
replaced, with the piles remaining in-situ, or the piles can be removed, and the land can be returned solely to farming activities. As such, any adverse
effects on the productive potential of the land are considered to be negligible."

https://www.harmlesssolutions.co.nz/

kingdragonfly

11996 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 12892

Subscriber

#3470668 15-Mar-2026 19:10

Trump’s Gas Prices Cold Open

Saturday Night Live

Handle9

11927 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 9683

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#3470671 15-Mar-2026 19:17

HarmLessSolutions:

It would appear my assumptions are correct. See p10 of this application document for a solar farm soon to be installed near me.(My bolding)

"Effects on Highly Productive Land -

The solar panel mounting structures will be pile driven or screwed into the ground, leaving the pasture underneath in place. Pasture is naturally retained
as water runs off the panels and drains into the soil, and sunlight reaching ground level remains available due to the separation of the panels. This
ensures that while the solar panels are in-situ, the site can continue to be utilised for pastoral farming, more specifically, the grazing of sheep. The
landowner (or a lessee) will continue to farm the land for this purpose. At the end of life of the solar panels, the panels can either be unscrewed and
replaced, with the piles remaining in-situ, or the piles can be removed, and the land can be returned solely to farming activities. As such, any adverse
effects on the productive potential of the land are considered to be negligible."

No no no. What you should do is create so many obstacles to any investment in the productive economy that no form of productivity improvement ever occurs with the corresponding increase in living standards. Then you can have an economy based around selling houses to each other. Oh wait....

AliExpress

Shop now on AliExpress (affiliate link).

mattwnz

20520 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 4798

#3470686 15-Mar-2026 20:52

The problem is it offers swings from one extreme to another where government change legislation.

SaltyNZ

8874 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 9566

Trusted

2degrees

Lifetime subscriber

#3470710 16-Mar-2026 08:16

mattwnz:

I am not sure if an end of life bond should be paid, that builds up over time as it makes money.

100% This. Bonds for make-good are invested in trust with a reputable market manager. At the point it is decided to return it to green fields the money is used to pay for it and any leftovers from the investment returns are given back to the owners. We've been stung too many times - mainly by mining, to be fair - not to start demanding this. At least for things where the clean up is especially expensive.

iPad Pro 11" + iPhone 15 Pro Max + 2degrees 4tw!

These comments are my own and do not represent the opinions of 2degrees.

mudguard

2328 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1250

#3470717 16-Mar-2026 08:46

SaltyNZ:

We've been stung too many times - mainly by mining, to be fair - not to start demanding this. At least for things where the clean up is especially expensive.

Yeah seeing some friend's photos of restored mining areas, still whopping great big holes and steep sides pits. I've always liked the aesthetic of wind turbines, what is the opposition to solar farms? The look? The risk? I mean grass paddocks and fences aren't exactly natural either.

MaxineN

Max
2056 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1675

ID Verified

Trusted

Subscriber

#3470718 16-Mar-2026 08:47

My local Waitomo is about to hit $3/l in Christchurch.

This is quite uncomfortable now and the lack of action from the government is also equally as uncomfortable(but no surprises there right?).

Ramblings from a mysterious lady who's into tech. Warning I may often create zingers.

fastbike

448 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 323

#3470719 16-Mar-2026 08:51

A certain member of the cabinet was interviewed on RNZ this morning, assuring us everything is all OK because we have a trade deal with Singapore. Corin Dann failed in his job by not asking her what happens when Singapore invokes force majeure clauses. We know they have been invoked in the upstream part of the very long and fragile supply chain that supplies us with the liquid fuels that power our agriculture, freight, fishing, etc

To illustrate how the just-in-time supply chain is starting to wind down, the last of the Singapore-bound tankers to transit the Strait of Hormuz has arrived at the destination port. So that means no more feedstock for that refinery unless they can source alternative supplies. Russian crude may be suitable but comes with a set of ethical challenges. Crude from the US in theory could be used, but the transport requirements would make it non-viable. None of the relatively abundant heavy crudes can be processed.

https://businessdesk.co.nz/article/transport/the-last-tankers-have-landed-now-nzs-fuel-crisis-begins-jet-fuel-consumers-feel-first-effects

So, despite the upbeat-nothing-to-worry-about-here/head-in-the-sand of the politicians running NZ Inc, we are on the cusp of some major supply disruptions.

On the good news front, I bought a new EV from a dealer in Wellington, last week and have just received notification that it is booked for transport over the other Strait - the non-mined one :)

And my 2022 62kWh Leaf is on trademe if anybody is interested.

Edit: fix typos

[Mod edit (MF): FUG breach]

Otautahi Christchurch

Dyson

Shop now for Dyson appliances (affiliate link).

wellygary

8816 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 5300

#3470720 16-Mar-2026 08:53

MaxineN:

My local Waitomo is about to hit $3/l in Christchurch.

This is quite uncomfortable now and the lack of action from the government is also equally as uncomfortable(but no surprises there right?).

What exact action are you wanting from the Government???, ... There is no magic wand to lower oil prices other than ending the conflict ..

fastbike

448 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 323

#3470722 16-Mar-2026 09:09

wellygary:

MaxineN:

My local Waitomo is about to hit $3/l in Christchurch.

This is quite uncomfortable now and the lack of action from the government is also equally as uncomfortable(but no surprises there right?).

What exact action are you wanting from the Government???, ... There is no magic wand to lower oil prices other than ending the conflict ..

It would be quite nice if the government would actually ... govern, rather than put their head in the sand and make bland meaningless statements.

Ending the conflict is not going to allow us to go back to the days of happy motoring, too much infrastructure has been damaged.

There have been some useful proposals for how to handle the upcoming rationing, we have a better understanding of the dynamics than 45 years ago and better options to reduce petrol demand.

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/589298/wise-response-society-calls-for-immediate-fuel-rationing-as-war-continues-in-middle-east

Our paddock-to-port export sector are going to be hammered though.

Otautahi Christchurch

MaxineN

Max
2056 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1675

ID Verified

Trusted

Subscriber

#3470725 16-Mar-2026 09:17

wellygary:

MaxineN:

My local Waitomo is about to hit $3/l in Christchurch.

This is quite uncomfortable now and the lack of action from the government is also equally as uncomfortable(but no surprises there right?).

What exact action are you wanting from the Government???, ... There is no magic wand to lower oil prices other than ending the conflict ..

I am not asking for a magic wand. There is this thing called public transport that they could potentially put some effort in rather than reducing the $$$ in it. Perhaps killing off the Clean Car discount was a terrible idea?

Or maybe the government could consider suggestions/guidelines(maybe mandates, remember COVID?) potentially jobs that could be WFH just be WFH to put less cars on the road, which yes would just ease the demand, ease the pain and maybe I dunno spend less???

None of these are magic wand ideas. They will ease but ultimately none of the above ideas will solve the problem and I fully understand the government can't solve a problem that was started by only one of the most influential countries on our planet.

So please do not assume that from me. Maybe think before rushing and believing that I want some magic.

I actually wanted to join in on the discussion, but if that's what someone is going to think about me if I call out how uncomfortable it is for someone who unfortunately is not in a position to go buy an EV, is worse off thanks to the current government, is also very uncomfortable with how idle our government is and wants to run it like it's some airline company, then I better not reply further. Congratulations.

Ramblings from a mysterious lady who's into tech. Warning I may often create zingers.

fastbike

448 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 323

#3470726 16-Mar-2026 09:18

MaxineN:

My local Waitomo is about to hit $3/l in Christchurch.

This is quite uncomfortable now and the lack of action from the government is also equally as uncomfortable(but no surprises there right?).

I'd be looking at price as the least of your inconveniences. You should be exploring other options to reduce fuel usage if they are available to you. We have more options than in the late 1970s.

We've been through this again so we can survive it. However we also need to demand our government, of what ever stripe, get serious on removing our dependency on imported energy.

And, there is an election in November.

Otautahi Christchurch

1 | ... | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | ... | 64