The Norske Skog Tasman plant in Kawerau.

Winner - Norske Skog Tasman: Large Energy User Initiative of the year, New Zealand Energy Excellence Awards

Norske Skog Tasman has won the inaugural large energy user initiative of the year category award at the prestigious Energy Excellence Awards.

I was very proud to accept the award on behalf of all of us at Norske Skog Tasman last night at the Energy Excellence Awards gala evening held in Auckland. This year’s awards was attended by over six hundred and fifty people representing all of New Zealand’s energy sector (Electricity, oil and gas) as well as dignitaries including the Honourable Simon Bridges, Minister of Energy and resources.

Graeme Everett wrote our submission into the awards, in it he detailed a number of activities and initiatives we have done and continue to do in our relentless pursuit to minimise electricity consumption and cost. As is so often the case Graeme has not made as much as he should have with respect to the key role he has played and I am sure will continue to play in our mills ongoing viability. Those of us that work with Graeme know all too well how hard he pushes us as a business to be better and to embrace those opportunities that exist in the energy space within our business. Graeme has literally saved our mill millions of dollars through his efforts as our energy manager and this contribution was recognised through spontaneous applause from the packed function room.

Similarly, we all at Tasman in our own ways no matter where we work, play a role in achieving energy excellence. Being recognised with this award is something we all should be very proud of! It was great to be joined by Alan Sedgman, Alex Findlay and Allan Holden at the awards evening as well.

I have attached a summary of our submissions for those interested in understanding the main points of what we highlighted.

Aaron Buist.