Understanding the market place

Natural gas plays a vital role in the New Zealand economy.  Buddle Findlay has been at the centre of many key developments in New Zealand’s gas industry over recent years.  We have been involved throughout the Maui gas field redetermination process and the subsequent restructuring of remaining Maui gas reserves.

Clients and services

We advise on exploration initiatives, reticulation issues including open access, acquisitions of gas wholesale and retail businesses, acquisitions of gas reticulation businesses and major new gas supply contracts both in New Zealand and overseas.  We also advise on litigation and other dispute resolution procedures relating to the gas sector and Commerce Act issues impacting on various levels in the market.

We have fuels expertise in the aviation context, which is readily transferable to the gas sector.  This includes downstream fuels joint venture agreements, use of systems agreements, and fuel pipeline joint ventures (both operation and development).

Recent work

  • Advising a major energy company on carbon pass through clauses in its gas
  • Advising a major energy company on gas industry rules and procedures
  • Advising auditors reporting to the Gas Industry Company regarding event audits and the Gas (Downstream Reconciliation) Rules 2008
  • Advising on the gas supply arrangements relating to the Taranaki Combined Cycle Facility, including the restructuring of those arrangements in connection with Contact Energy’s acquisition of TCC
  • Advising on Contact Energy’s purchases of Enerco gas retail and Orion gas wholesale businesses (both of which included acquisition of gas arrangements)
  • Negotiating and drafting a gas supply agreement with Greymouth Petroleum for Ngatoro and Kaimiro gas, and related financing documents
  • Advising on the Commerce Act implications of the Maui restructuring
  • Drafting and negotiating high-value, long-term gas contracts in Australia (both in the Northern Territory and Western Australia) and Malaysia
  • Assisting Methanex on various gas-related transactions, including gas sale and purchase agreements, swaps, tender bids, reconciliation and allocation arrangements, pipeline access arrangements, farm-ins on various petroleum exploration and development opportunities, and sole risk arrangements
  • Advising Methanex on all Maui gas-related issues including redetermination of reserves and restructuring of Maui gas supply arrangements post-redetermination
  • Drafting and negotiating Methanex’s 40PJ gas supply arrangement with the Maui joint venture
  • Advising Vector on the acquisition of UnitedNetworks gas distribution businesses as part of its successful takeover