New land released for gas exploration will bring major work opportunities to Queensland’s mining sector, an industry body has said.
The Queensland Resources Council (QRC) welcomed the State Government’s move to award more than 2700 square kilometres of gas-rich land for exploration.
Senex Energy recently won 153 sq km of land to explore for gas for domestic supply only near Miles, 210km west of Toowoomba. This is in addition to land already awarded for Senex’s Project Atlas near Wandoan, which has already secured two sales contracts with domestic manufacturers.
A Santos/Shell joint venture, Galilee Energy and debutante Sajawin have separately secured approval to explore for gas across more than 2600 sq km between Miles and Inglewood near the New South Wales border.
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‘Massive economic benefits’
QRC chief executive Ian Macfarlane commended the State Government for investing in regional Queensland.
“This is an investment into regional Queensland, where all levels of governments and farmers support the gas industry, resulting in massive economic benefits,” he said in a public statement.
He also said the NSW and Victorian governments should not expect Queensland to continue to supply and subsidise their own gas users.
“It’s time for both sides of politics to consider rewarding states that do develop their resources at the expense of those who don’t,” he said.
More opportunities to come
A new round of tenders have been called to explore a further 3700 sq km of land near Springsure in central Queensland.
“I say get your bids in for this latest tender because this government, like you, wants to keep growing Queensland as a reliable and affordable gas producer,” State Mines Minister Dr Anthony Lynham said in a public statement. “We want to see more petajoules of Queensland gas in pipes, more jobs in Queensland, and our gas driving jobs in Australian manufacturing.”
Other exploration projects that are on the hunt for gas guaranteed for the domestic market include Armour Energy (775 sq km of proven-gas rich land on the Roma Shelf), Chi Oil and Gas (5266 sq km near Quilpie), Santos/Shell joint venture (393 sq km near Surat) and Central Petroleum (77 sq km near Miles).
Information on the tenders can be found on the department’s website: business.qld.gov.au/industries/mining-energy-water/resources/geoscience-information/exploration-incentives/current-tenders
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