The companies told community open days in New Plymouth last weekend that a construction workforce of about 300 would be required for up to four years if the $600-million project proceeded, according to the Taranaki Daily News.

Contact and Genesis are partners in a 50:50 joint venture called Gasbridge, which would built the terminal if domestic gas supplies fell to a level where gas must be imported.

The Gasbridge terminal would be capable of importing about half of New Zealand's total annual gas requirements, the companies said.