The Queensland Government is seeking more gas for the domestic market by opening up thousands of square kilometres of land for exploration.
Queensland Energy Minister Anthony Lynham said the 30,000 square kilometres of new land for exploration was one of the state’s largest ever land releases and included more than 30 per cent earmarked for domestic supply.
“Business and industry – particularly our manufacturers — needs more affordable gas to fuel jobs and there’s one surefire way to do that – produce more gas,” Lynham said.
“This is Queensland continuing to do the heavy lifting on gas for the domestic market for jobs.”
Six successful ventures have won the right to explore a total of 3450 square kilometres – two of them for gas for the domestic market only.
They are Comet Ridge – 450 square kilometres for domestic supply– south-east of Emerald; Denison Gas – 568 square kilometres for domestic supply– south-east of Emerald; Galilee Energy – 1425 square kilometres – south of Emerald; Westside and APLNG – 753 square kilometres – east of Taroom; Santos GLNG – two areas totalling 101 square kilometres east of Roma; and Real Energy/Strata-X – 153 square kilometres west of Miles.
“These operators now have the opportunity to hunt for gas in proven gas rich Bowen and Surat basins,” Lynham said.
“Queensland is open for business and I encourage these companies to progress the necessary approvals to get the gas and associated jobs flowing.”