A Tauranga man who is currently a serving prisoner will come out of jail on May 22, on bail for drugs charges.

John Aitken appeared in the Tauranga District Court Friday where his lawyer Glenn Dixon asked Judge Peter Rollo to remand the Aitken on bail when his prison sentence for other matters ends on May 22.

Aitken is facing two charges of having equipment/material with intent to manufacture methamphetamine.

He was arrested on December 3 with iodine in his possession. Police say iodine can be used to manufacture methamphetamine.

Aitken's alleged co-offender Karl Goldsbury was also due to appear in court on Friday, but Judge Rollo excused his attendance at the request of his lawyer, Tony Balme.

Goldsbury is due to appear back in court on March 20. Goldsbury is facing three counts of conspiring to manufacture the class-A drug methamphetamine, two counts of manufacturing methamphetamine and one count of supplying methamphetamine. He is also charged with arson. These charges are in addition to a previous charge of arson.

Goldsbury, along with Tracey Farrow and Terence Jones were arrested after a P-lab at a property in Park Road was set alight during an armed police raid on December 9.

The former KingKat factory building exploded into flames with neighbours reporting hearing loud bangs before balls of smoke was seen coming from the property around midday.

Co-accused Simon Whare, Mark Kimber and Damon Best are also facing drug charges and are due to appear in court at a later date.

Goldsbury will remain in custody until his next appearance.