If you want to develop your listening skills, try these tasks as you listen to the text. The answers are at the bottom of this page. Thanks to Natasha Groves for preparing the tasks.
If you want to listen and read, just scroll down to the News story.
Use the vocabulary list to check the meanings of some words before you listen.
Vocabulary
announce – to officially tell people something, especially a plan or decision
liquefy (liquefied) – make something become a liquid
import (noun) – the act of bringing a product from one country to another
inject – to put a liquid, or in this context gas, into something
hydropower – electricity produced using the power of water
household – all the people who live together in a house
megawatt – a million watts. A watt is a unit for measuring electrical power
hothouse – a heated building, usually made of glass, where plants can grow
campaign – a series of activities that are intended to achieve a particular aim. In politics, a campaign promise is something a political party promises that they will do if they are elected
leak – a small hole that lets water, or in this context, gas, flow out of something
Try these activities while listening
1. Listening for main ideas
First, just listen to the text, taking notes if you wish. What information can you catch during this first listening?
2. Now listen again and answer the following questions:
- How will the liquefied natural gas import facility help New Zealand?
- LNG is transported as a gas – True or False?
- What is happening to New Zealand’s natural gas supplies?
- In dry years, what fuels need to be used to generate electricity?
- How much would the LNG import facility save New Zealanders a year? How much is that per year per household?
- How much could it cost to construct the LNG import facility?
- How much will the new levy be per megawatt hour? How much will that add per year to electricity bills for an average household?
- Note one reason why some energy experts support this plan.
- Note one reason why one group is critical of this plan.
News story
On 9 February the Government announced a plan to build a liquefied natural gas (LNG) import facility in Taranaki. It said that this will strengthen energy security and support economic growth.
LNG is gas that has been cooled and turned into a liquid so that it is easier to transport. When it arrives at an import facility, it is ’regasified’, that is, turned back into a gas and injected into the usual gas network.
LNG would be useful because New Zealand’s own natural gas supplies are decreasing faster than expected. Consequently, there has been a shortage of gas which has affected businesses and put pressure on electricity prices. In addition, in some years there is not enough rain or wind to generate electricity through hydropower or wind farms. These years are called ‘dry years’. When that happens, fossil fuels such as coal and gas need to be used to generate electricity. Having LNG would provide a back-up supply for this situation.
The Government said that the LNG import facility would save New Zealanders about $265 million a year. This would equate to savings of $50 per year for each household. It would also create jobs during construction and provide long-term skilled roles when it begins operation.
However, it will cost a lot of money to build the facility and to import the LNG. The cost is not yet known but could be over $1 billion for construction and tens of millions of dollars per year for operation. To pay for this, there will be a new levy on electricity generation, of $2 to $4 per megawatt hour. This will be passed on to consumers, so will add $15-30 per year to electricity bills for an average household.
There has been a mixed reaction to this plan. Some energy experts support it because gas is important not only for electricity generation but also for manufacturing, such as steel, and food processing, such as hothouses for growing tomatoes. Schools and hospitals also use a lot of gas. However, these experts also say that LNG is not the only solution to New Zealand’s energy problem. Others are critical of the plan. The Labour Party argue that the levy is a tax so National is breaking an election campaign promise to have no new taxes. The Green Party also argue that the Government has decided to increase New Zealanders’ power bills and to continue dependence on fossil fuels which contribute to climate change. Other energy experts believe that New Zealand should only use coal in dry years, as there is already enough coal in the country. This would avoid spending billions of dollars building and running a facility for a new type of fuel. Some people in Taranaki are also concerned about safety and the risk of leaks and explosions.
If you’d like to learn more about New Zealand’s electricity problems, listen to Gas and electricity in NZ and Possible power shortages from 2024.
Answers – you don’t have to write a complete sentence as long as you have the key idea in your answer
a. How will the liquefied natural gas import facility help New Zealand?
It will strengthen energy security and support economic growth.
b. LNG is transported as a gas – True or False?
False – it is transported as a liquid
c. What is happening to New Zealand’s natural gas supplies?
They are decreasing faster than expected.
d. In dry years, what fuels need to be used to generate electricity?
Fossil fuels such as coal and gas
e. How much would the LNG import facility save New Zealanders a year?
about $265 million a year
How much is that per year per household?
$50
f. How much could it cost to construct the LNG import facility?
Over $1 billion
g. How much will the new levy be per megawatt hour?
$2-4
How much will that add per year to electricity bills for an average household?
$15-30
h. Note one reason why some energy experts support this plan.
– gas is important not only for electricity generation but also for manufacturing, such as steel, and food processing, such as hothouses for growing tomatoes
– schools and hospitals use a lot of gas
i. Note one reason why one group is critical of this plan.
– The Labour Party: the levy is a tax so National is breaking an election campaign promise to have no new taxes.
– The Green Party: the Government has decided to increase New Zealanders’ power bills and to continue dependence on fossil fuels which contribute to climate change.
– Other energy experts: New Zealand should only use coal in dry years, as there is already enough coal in the country. This would avoid spending billions of dollars building and running a facility for a new type of fuel.
– Some people in Taranaki: concerned about safety and the risk of leaks and explosions.