Crisafulli Government delivers exploration opportunities to power next wave of oil, gas, coal and vanadium projects

• Competitive tenders open for 18 new areas to explore for petroleum, gas, coal and vanadium.
• Includes further petroleum and gas exploration across the Cooper/Eromanga and Bowen/Surat Basins to help secure future domestic supply.
• The Crisafulli Government is delivering a better lifestyle through a stronger economy and a plan for Queensland’s future. 

The Crisafulli Government is delivering a better lifestyle through a stronger economy, with the release of 18 new highly prospective petroleum and gas, coal, and mineral exploration areas to secure a pipeline of future energy and minerals projects. 

A competitive tender process is now open for: 

• 12 petroleum and gas areas totalling more than 7,000km² - about twice the size of Townsville - in the Bowen/Surat and Cooper/Eromanga Basins
• four coal areas totaling approximately 235km² across the Bowen/Surat basins
• two vanadium areas totaling approximately 269km² northeast of Julia Creek, containing one of the largest known vanadium resources in the world.   

Four of the petroleum and gas areas will be released subject to an Australian Market Supply Condition, ensuring any gas produced from those tenures is supplied to the domestic market to put downward pressure on energy prices. 

The release follows the recent appointment of preferred tenderers to explore for petroleum and gas in the Cooper/Eromanga basins and the Taroom Trough, bringing more than $100 million of new exploration activity into the State and importantly, into regional Queensland.   

It’s just one of the ways the Crisafulli Government is delivering a plan for Queensland’s future, after Labor’s anti-mining and anti-resources policies sent investor confidence to rock bottom.  

It is the second time the Crisafulli Government has released land in the Cooper Basin since taking office, after Labor effectively locked up the gas-rich area. 

Minister for Natural Resources and Mines Dale Last said this new release of land was continuing the Crisafulli Government’s plan to secure long-term energy supply, create regional jobs and deliver economic growth. 

“Exploration is where every major project begins and without it, there is no pipeline of future supply,” Minister Last said. 

“This release is part of a broader plan to ensure Queensland continues building its pipeline of petroleum, gas, coal and mineral projects, delivering long-term energy security and economic growth. 

“We’re sending a clear message that Queensland is open for business, and we are serious about securing long-term energy supply for Australian households and businesses. 

“By applying domestic market supply conditions to key gas areas and unlocking new highly prospective ground, we’re strengthening energy security and supporting regional jobs. 

“From the emerging potential of the Taroom Trough to new vanadium opportunities near Julia Creek, Queensland is positioning itself at the forefront of the next generation of resource development.