Opponents point out hazards of lignite plant. Dr Russell Tregonning. Otago Daily Times 18 Jan 2012.
Despite the known health hazards of coal mining, in September 2010, Bill English opened state-owned Solid Energy's pilot scheme near Mataura, to convert 150,000 tonnes of lignite to briquettes (dehydrated lignite used as a solid fuel). This was the first step in the creation of what may be New Zealand's largest industrial project.
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