Concerns after new coal and gas projects given go ahead
The state government has just approved tenders for new gas and coal exploration areas across the state, but the Conservation Council has labelled the government’s agenda “cynical”.
Yesterday, the state government announced approval of 18 new prospective oil, gas, coal and vanadium exploration areas across the state.
Competitive tender processes are now open for 12 petroleum and gas areas totalling more than 7000km² – twice the size of Townsville – in the Bowen/Surat and Cooper/Eromanga Basins.
Tenders are also available for four coal areas totalling 235km² across the Bowen/Surat basins, and two vanadium areas around 269km² northeast of Julia Creek, which contains one of the largest vanadium resources in the world.
Four of the gas areas will be subject to an Australian Market Supply Condition, meaning any gas produced will be supplied to the domestic market to drive down pressure on energy prices.
Minister for Natural Resources and Mines Dale Last said the land release would continue the state government’s plan to secure a long-term energy supply.
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“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,” Last said.
He added that the release sent a clear message that Queensland was “open for business” in energy development.
“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,” Last added.
Last said the emerging potential of the Taroom Trough and vanadium opportunities near Julia Creek would position Queensland at the forefront of the next generation of resource development.
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“We will continue to ensure areas are made available for exploration with a new expression of interest process for industry anticipated to open later in the year.”
This land release announcement comes after the recent appointment of tenderers to explore these areas, bringing more than $100 million of new exploration activity into regional Queensland.
It is the second time the Crisafulli Government has released land in the Cooper Basin since taking office.
Queensland Conservation Council (QCC) were quick to respond to the announcement, calling the agenda “cynical” and claiming the state government was putting fossil fuel company profits ahead of Queensland’s future.
QCC coal and gas campaigner Charlie Cox said the Crisafulli Government needed to be more focused on energy supplies that would bring long-term protection for Queensland communities and energy prices.
“We don’t need more gas, we need to rein the gas companies in to stop them exporting our gas instead of supplying Queensland families and businesses,” Cox said.
Cox added that committing only a third of new gas field production to the domestic market would allow corporations like Santos to buy gas on the domestic market and sell it to support their failing fields.
“It’s actively rewarding them, and Queenslanders should be angry,” Cox added.
“By repealing our renewable energy targets and now actively encouraging more fossil fuel development, the Crisafulli Government is driving up emissions, which will lock in more climate pollution, more extreme weather and more profit for fossil fuel corporations.”
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