The Marsden Point Energy Precinct
Channel’s long-term vision for its Marsden Point site as an Energy Precinct outlines how the Company could accommodate a range of energy projects that would boost New Zealand’s energy resilience and help support the decarbonisation of New Zealand.
The plan highlights the significant role the site could play in supporting New Zealand’s energy transition, through potential opportunities such as additional storage, lower-carbon future fuels manufacture, as well as a range of energy security projects such as electricity firming and storage opportunities.
As New Zealand’s largest fuels import terminal we have a key role to play in supporting our customers, underpinning resilience in New Zealand’s fuels supply chain.
With approximately 350 million litres of unutilised storage tanks, as well as significant land, facilities and proven capabilities, we see a real opportunity to provide additional storage for our customers, and in support of the Government’s fuel security ambitions.
Click here to download our Marsden Point Energy Precinct graphic.
Channel’s role would be as a precinct landlord with long-term contracted lease income that supplements our infrastructure income, earning an appropriate yield on our land. Strategic tenants would also utilise our existing infrastructure including our jetty, pipeline and storage on our site.
Our plan for growth includes supporting the manufacture of lower-carbon future fuels at Marsden Point to support the energy transition in New Zealand.
New Zealand’s electricity grid is increasingly renewable, and with that comes the challenge of firming that grid. For a site that is consented for electricity generation and well connected to the national transmission grid, we are actively investigating a firming option that would utilise the onsite diesel to support the grid when it’s needed. Channel is well placed for other opportunities as well including flow batteries, green hydrogen or green hydrogen carriers for import or export and electricity generation.
Marsden Point biorefinery project
Channel Infrastructure has entered into a conditional project development agreement with Seadra Energy Inc, to develop a biorefinery at Channel’s Marsden Point site. The proposed biorefinery could become an anchor tenant for Channel’s Marsden Point Energy Precinct.
The Seadra biorefinery project would utilise Channel’s decommissioned assets from the hydrocracking complex, as well as newly constructed plant (including to process biological feedstocks). The Seadra Consortium, which includes consortium members Qantas, Renova Inc, Kent Plc, and ANZ, would build, own and operate the plant, and would be responsible for sourcing feedstock, with Channel acting as landlord and ancillary infrastructure provider.
Sustainable Aviation Fuel
Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) is emerging as the most technically viable way to bring down aviation emissions for medium to long-haul travel. Given our proximity to Auckland, and critical role in the jet fuel supply chain, we are well positioned to help facilitate the renewable fuel transition in New Zealand.
Our critical infrastructure is capable of handling ‘drop in’ lower-carbon fuels, including second-generation biofuel and SAF. As a ‘drop in’ fuel, SAF can use existing infrastructure such as existing ships, storage tanks, pipelines, and airports, and does not require any changes to the tens of thousands of aircraft currently in use. It is also the lowest cost option for the future.
Growth beyond Marsden Point
A core part of our long-term strategy is to consider expansion beyond Marsden Point, including consolidation along Channel’s current supply chain to Auckland Airport, as well as measured growth step-outs that add on to the quality of Channel’s assets in New Zealand and Australia. Through our commitment to world-class and proven operator capabilities, Channel is well positioned to grow beyond Marsden Point.
In November 2025, we announced the strategic acquisition of 25% of Melbourne’s Somerton jet fuel pipeline. You can read more about this venture here.
We see a real opportunity to continue to grow and support our customers, and the wider energy supply chain across Australasia .
