Led by Z Energy on behalf of the fuel industry and in partnership with CentrePort, the Seaview Energy Resilience Project is a NZD 100 million-plus infrastructure upgrade delivered over eight years to strengthen fuel resilience.
Due for full completion later this year, the project has replaced and strengthened critical fuel infrastructure that helps supply over ten percent of New Zealand's fuel, including a new 590-metre subsea pipeline and approximately three kilometres of upgraded onshore pipeline.
The infrastructure will support around 110 million litres of fuel storage in the Seaview Industrial Area and helps supply approximately 900 million litres of fuel each year across the lower North Island.
It plays a critical role in supplying fuel to businesses, essential services, Defence Force operations and regional airports, including Ohakea and Paraparaumu.
Designed to improve fuel resilience and reduce the risk of future disruption, the project aligns with recent Infrastructure Commission recommendations by replacing ageing infrastructure with modern assets better able to withstand earthquakes and other disruptive events.
Z's GM Supply, Julian Hughes, said the project demonstrated the importance of investing in critical infrastructure to support New Zealand’s long-term resilience.
“New Zealanders expect critical infrastructure to be reliable, resilient and ready when its needed most. As New Zealand’s largest fuel importer, we have a responsibility to invest in infrastructure that supports the communities, businesses and essential services that rely on fuel every day,” said Hughes.
“This project helps to strengthen confidence in the fuel supply chain, reduce the risk of future disruption and help ensure fuel can continue to reach the people and places that depend on it.”
Planning for the project began in 2018, following work to identify opportunities to strengthen the resilience of fuel infrastructure in the Wellington region.
Major works have included CentrePort’s significant upgrade to Seaview Wharf and the replacement of ageing fuel transfer infrastructure connecting the wharf to fuel storage facilities in the Seaview Industrial Area.
Together, these upgrades bring the infrastructure into line with internationally proven standards used across the global fuel and energy sector.
CentrePort Chief Executive Anthony Delaney said the project reinforced the importance of resilient infrastructure to the region and the wider economy.
“CentrePort plays an important role in supporting regional and national supply chains. Our NZD 63M investment into Seaview ensures the infrastructure supporting fuel supply to the lower North Island has resilience as a core focus,” said Delaney.
“The overall investment was an integral part of the Wellington Lifelines programme business case developed in 2019 and supports the potential for larger vessels to berth at Seaview in the future.”
The final stage of the project, the installation of the new subsea pipeline, is being delivered by Brian Perry Civil.
Project Manager Martin Bell said the installation was a significant engineering achievement and his highlight was successfully positioning the 590-metre subsea pipeline within 0.5 metres of its intended location.
The project has also been shaped by strong partnerships with mana whenua, industry partners, ecologists and the local community.
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