AEC Completes Refurbishment of Control Gate 2 for Mercury’s Upgrade Program

Ashhurst Engineering & Construction (1989) Limited (AEC) has successfully completed the refurbishment of Control Gate 2 as part of Mercury’s program to upgrade the hydro stations along the Waikato River. This project reflects AEC’s expertise in delivering complex engineering solutions and continues our history of involvement with Mercury’s control gate refurbishments.

The project involved removing, disassembling, and refurbishing the gate and associated stop logs, with repairs and inspections carried out at AEC’s Ashhurst facility. At 4.3 meters wide, 5 meters high, and weighing 12.8 tonnes, the control gate required precision engineering and seamless coordination. Once refurbished, the gate was reinstalled overnight, and a full re-commissioning by Mercury confirmed excellent results.

With this successful outcome, AEC is well-positioned to support Mercury in future upgrades, including refurbishing the remaining gates and previously completed units. We are proud to contribute to the reliability and performance of New Zealand’s renewable energy infrastructure.