LPG production is up, demand for petrol down and coal generated electricity is at an eight-year low, new energy information shows.

The New Zealand Energy Quarterly for the September quarter was released today by the Ministry of Economic Development.

It showed increased LPG production at the Kupe and gas field had resulted in the largest quarterly LPG production since the June quarter in 2006.

Energy and Resources Minister Gerry Brownlee said that meant New Zealand did not need to import LPG for the fist time since the March quarter in the same year.

The figures also showed demand for diesel was up for the first time in two years, while demand for petrol was 0.6 percent lower than the same quarter last year.

New Zealand recorded the largest ever quarterly electricity generation in the September quarter, that was almost entirely attributable to the Tiwai Point aluminium smelter returning to full production, the report said.

Electricity generated from renewable sources was at 74 percent, having ranged between 70 and 76 percent since the December 2008 quarter.

Hydro generated electricity accounted for 55.1 percent of all electricity in the September quarter. Gas was the second highest source with 22.8 percent.

Meanwhile coal generated electricity continued to fall and was at an eight-year low for the quarter at just 3.8 percent of all electricity. That was largely to due to the increased availability of gas, the report said.

Electricity generated in New Zealand produced 1562kt of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions in the quarter.

That was relatively low per unit of electricity due to the reduction in coal and increase in hydro generated electricity.

The report also showed expected increases in petrol and electricity prices due to the emission trading scheme and GST rise respectively.

A survey on November 15 showed electricity prices for customers on an average 8000kwh a year went up 2.6 percent.

Fuel companies rose their prices by an average 3 cents/litre following the introduction of liquid fuels into the ETS on July 1.

The annual New Zealand Energy Quarterly would also be released later today

(Source Dominion Post)