Quote:
Originally Posted by StainlessSteelCynic
Given that (as far as I remember), none of the books mention New Zealand in any significant manner, it would be up to the Referee to decide if such important parts of NZ's infrastructure are still operational.
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Not even in passing.
In the grand scheme, Marsden Point is a very, very small player. Sure they supply the bulk of the countries fuel, but when you've got a population of only 3.8 million (comparable to just the state of Oklahoma, 1/3rd of Belgium, or 1/10th of Poland), that's not exactly much is it....
Then take away crude imports (which comprise 100% of the oil processed), as well as the inability to adequately repair (lack of parts from other countries) the refinery should there be damage, normal wear and tear, or even just the requirement to change systems to allow for a change in what oil is still available for processing, and NZ is already in a poor shape fuel wise.
Then we throw them into war, as well as an obligation to support several Pacific island nations....
Does Marsden Point NEED attacking? No, especially since "All local oil production is exported as the New Zealand refinery is not suited to processing it."
Experiments into refining locally sourced oil did not start until 2007 from a field that wasn't even discovered until 2003.
Could the refinery be adapted to use the limited amount of local oil? Sure, but it requires equipment and knowledge which aren't readily available in New Zealand, and after about the middle of 1997 (the absolute earliest a need to switch may be identified) will be impossible to source from elsewhere.
Can the refinery process the local oil without the equipment and knowledge?
Yes, but at a greatly reduced efficiency which will greatly effect output (even in peacetime it wasn't sufficient for the countries entire needs).
So what does this mean for the RAN? No fuel coming from NZ that's for sure! (ok, MAYBE an insignificant trickle for the attached NZ naval and ground forces...maybe.)
On a related note, the Oceanic War (as I'm starting to call the Indonesian invasion) is still ongoing in 2000. More low level and less intense, but fighting is still happening, particularly in the West and Gulf regions and to a lesser extent in Eastern Sepik and Madang.