The expansion was finally cloded out on May 30 1986, almost a two year overrun, and at a final cost of NZ$1.84 billion.

An expansion the size and complexity of Marsden Point is not started up all at once. Units are brought on line one at a time and tested thoroughly before moving on to the next one. The second Crude Distiller had already started in March 1986. The Hydrogen Manufacturing Unit was operational by August and the Hydrocracker ready to start in November.

In April 1986, the Synthetic Gasoline Plant came into full production and so by the end of the year, most of the Think-Big energy projects were completed. By this time, the economic picture had changed drastically from that existing at the time the projects had been originally proposed. As recently as 1980, the world crude price had been as high as US$56/bbl (Iran/Iraq war). During this time, NZ dollar devaluation had also impacted NZ supply costs, but from 1980 to 1986, the price drifted down to around $17. In Roger Douglas’ 1986 budget it was announced that the Government would take over the Think Big loans as a first step in the deregulation of the energy industry.