Gas tenders as Queensland continues to support domestic gas market

• Tenders awarded for six petroleum and gas exploration areas across Bowen and Surat basins.
• One is earmarked for domestic gas supply.
• More than 20,000 kilometres of land released to shore up Australian gas supply since 2017

Queensland is continuing to do the heavy lifting in supporting the east coast domestic gas market with the awarding of new tenders for gas exploration.

The tenders for petroleum and gas cover six areas of land across the Bowen and Surat Basins as part of the Queensland Exploration Program.

One of the tenders awarded will help keep more gas on Australian shores to benefit local businesses and communities, subject to the Australian Market Supply Condition

Since 2017, Queensland has released over 20,000 kilometres of land exclusively for Australian domestic supply.

This is backed with the awarding of funding earlier this year from the $21 million Frontier Gas Grants program to four companies to fast-track the development of new gas reserves.

The Australian Energy Market Operator has this week warned of immediate gas supply risks across south-eastern Australia.

Two tenders have also been awarded for coal exploration areas near existing mining operations in the Bowen Basin.

Quotes attributable to Resources and Critical Minerals Minister Scott Stewart:

“Queensland continues to do the heavy lifting when it comes to the east coast market because we know additional supply is key to ensuring its reliability.

“Our gas industry is a critical enabler for Queensland’s economy by providing royalties, secure jobs, and is vital to powering our manufacturing sector and homes.

“We have always said gas is an important part of our energy transition as we move on our path towards renewables.

“In the 2022-23 financial year more than 27 petajoules of gas flowed from Queensland to the southern states, enough to power 520,000 homes.

“Awarding these tenders demonstrates how Queensland is continuing to lead the nation when it comes to gas policy and doing the heavy lifting to meet domestic demands.

“Our gas supply policy is working, supporting exploration in Queensland and maintaining a pipeline of projects means more gas for industry and homes, and more jobs for Queensland.”

Quotes attributable to Tri-Star Group Country Manager Australia Andrew Hackwood:

“Tri-Star Group plans to rapidly progress exploration on ATP 2076 (Application), leveraging our extensive experience in frontier exploration including coal seam gas.

“The area that Tri-Star Group was awarded in the recent land release has large geological potential, is proximate to existing infrastructure, and is in an established resource region including producing gas fields.

“With the looming gas shortage predicted by the independent Australian Energy Market Operator, Tri-Star is committed to discovering new gas resources and finding pathways to bring these resources to markets as quickly as possible.”

Quotes attributable to Comet Ridge Managing Director Tor McCaul

“We are very pleased to receive continued strong support in Queensland. 

“Natural gas is critically important for both keeping the lights on and manufacturing thousands of key products. 

“The Mahalo Hub gas will contribute to both of those outcomes in eastern Australia and the award of this block increases our position in this strategically important asset.”

Additional Information

Learn more about the 2023 Queensland Exploration Program and the Frontier Gas Grants program.

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