Channel Infrastructure NZ Limited logo

Q4 Conversion Project Update

Quarterly Update15 January 2023CHIEnergy

channelnz.com


NZX RELEASE


16 January 2023


Q4 Conversion Project Update

Channel Infrastructure (CHI), New Zealand’s largest fuel import terminal business based at Marsden Point in

Northland, has today released its quarterly conversion project update for the three months ended 31

December 2022 (Q4 FY22).


Key conversion project highlights for Q4 FY22 include:

• Nine months of terminal operations successfully completed with 56 import shipments received and

discharged;

• Permanent decommissioning of refinery process plant is now nearing completion and on track to be

completed in H1 FY23;

• Almost half of the private storage capacity has been commissioned and is now available at Marsden

Point; and

• Conversion costs continuing to track to budget, with c$126 million

1

spent project to date and limited

utilisation of project contingency to date.


CEO Naomi James said “The importance of our critical infrastructure has never been clearer, as aviation

demand rapidly returns to New Zealand. We have successfully completed tank conversions on almost half of

the contracted private storage capacity, with the remainder due to come online in coming months.”


After nine months of terminal operations, with imported fuel flowing through our infrastructure and the first

delivery of sustainable aviation fuel receipted into Marsden Point, our business is now firmly focused on

delivering our plans for the future. We are working with the New Zealand Government to support their fuel

security measures and progressing work to source more affordable and preferably renewable electricity, with

significant interest received in response to our RFI.”


Terminal and pipeline throughput in Q4 2022 was 800 million litres, the highest level seen since the arrival of

COVID. Aviation demand continues to show a strong recovery, with jet consumption (which is predominantly

driven by the resumption of long-haul flights out of Auckland Airport) now having doubled compared with the

same period last year and reaching 65% of pre-COVID levels.


Rigorous testing processes at Marsden Point identified an off-specification jet import cargo in December and

ensured this fuel was not distributed further along the supply chain. We are now working with our fuel

company customers, who own the fuel imported into Marsden Point, to draw learnings from this incident. We

expect that the Government’s proposed minimum domestic stockholding obligations will support additional

system resilience, when implemented.


Decommissioning of refining plant is nearing completion and remains on track to be completed in H1 2023.

The terminal upgrade works, and continued private storage tank conversion works, are ongoing and

progressing well with almost half of contracted private storage capacity commissioned in 2022. A further

c.50 million litres of mostly jet private storage is due to be commissioned mid-2023. Schedule impacts from


channelnz.com

supply chain disruptions and abnormal levels of wet weather in Northland are being closely managed, with

November the wettest month on record.


Conversion costs are tracking to plan with c.$126 million

1

spent to 31 December 2022 (30 September 2022:

$98 million), including c$15 million of private storage costs (30 September 2022: $7 million). In addition,

platinum leases of $14 million were closed out in the quarter, with recovery of platinum from catalyst

expected to occur within 12-24 months. Conversion costs and platinum lease close-out, partly offset with

positive cash flows from terminal operations, resulted in an increase in net borrowings from $230 million as

at 30 September 2022 to $257 million as at 31 December 2022.


- ENDS -


Authorised by:

Chris Bougen

General Counsel and Company Secretary

Investor Relations contact:

Anna Bonney

investorrelations@channelnz.com


Media contact:

Laura Malcolm

communications@channelnz.com

+64 21 02363 297


About Channel Infrastructure NZ

Channel Infrastructure is New Zealand’s leading fuel infrastructure company.

Channel Infrastructure owns critical infrastructure, supplying the Northland and Auckland markets, which

make up 40% of New Zealand’s transport fuel demand and all of the jet fuel to the Auckland International

Airport. Utilising the deep-water harbour and jetty infrastructure at Marsden Point, as well as 280 million

litres of storage tanks, and the 170-kilometre pipeline from Marsden Point to Auckland we receive, store, test

and distribute fuel owned by our customers. Channel Infrastructure’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Independent

Petroleum Laboratory Limited, provides fuel quality testing services at Marsden Point and around New

Zealand.

Channel Infrastructure is well positioned to support New Zealand’s changing future fuel needs, with growth

opportunities at the Marsden Point site including additional fuel storage to support fuel security, renewable

electricity supply through the Maranga Ra solar project, and work underway with customers and partners on

biofuel and hydrogen opportunities.

For more information on Channel Infrastructure, please visit: www.channelnz.com




1

Subject to the finalisation of the FY22 financial results.

Data sourced from publicly available filings. Our datasets may not be complete. Automated analysis can produce errors. If you believe any data on this page is incorrect, please contact us at hello@nzxplorer.co.nz. For informational purposes only. Not investment advice.