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The mayor of New Plymouth says drilling companies wanting into the oil and gas industry in Taranaki should be forced to let banks stress-test their business case.
An industry whistleblower yesterday warned that if Singapore's Jadestone Energy is allowed to buy into the Maari Oil Field - offshore from Taranaki - the taxpayer could end up paying for decommissioning of the site.
In December, Malaysian energy firm Tamarind Taranaki went bust and abandoned the Tui Oil Field, leaving the taxpayer with clean up bill of at least $155 million.
New Plymouth mayor Neil Holdom says that shouldn't be allowed to happen again.
He spoke to RNZ Taranaki Whanganui reporter Robin Martin.