Surat Basin – it’s a gas

Chinchilla: Mines and Energy Minister Geoff Wilson has told a major energy conference that the Surat Basin is set to rival the mining might of the Bowen Basin and become the new economic powerhouse of the state.

Minister Wilson said the coal seam gas industry was going full steam ahead in Queensland and the Bligh Government was backing it all the way.

“Gas is a cleaner energy source and it’s in abundance right here in the Surat Basin,” Mr Wilson said.

The State Government has opened up more than 110,000 square kilometres of land to potential investors, all keen to capitalise on this cleaner energy source.

“We’re serious about tackling climate change. We see gas as a vital way forward while we develop clean coal technologies. Gas-fired generation has half the carbon dioxide emissions of coal, so it’s good for the environment and it’s good for the economy,” he said.

Minister Wilson said coal seam gas projects in Queensland had yielded more than $1 billion worth of development right across the state.

“This is due in no small part to our 13% gas scheme which requires electricity retailers to source at least 13% of their energy from gas-fired generation. We’re increasing that to 15% by 2010, and 20% by 2020,” he said.

“Our gas scheme is also an investment in the people who live and work in the Surat Basin - in Miles, Dalby and Chinchilla. It’s an investment in their future.”

Queensland has around 3,000 megawatts of gas-fired generation projects on the drawing board.

Today, the Minister inspected work on one of the newest projects, Origin Energy’s $780 million gas-fired power station, in the heart of the Surat Basin.

“The Darling Downs power station is a big baseload power station that will generate 630 megawatts of cleaner gas-fired power into the national electricity grid. It’s expected to be up and running late next year,” he said.

The Surat Basin stretches west from Toowoomba to Mitchell, and south from Theodore to the New South Wales border.

Media Inquiries: Minister’s Office 3225 1819