More Land for Gas Development Released in Queensland
Almost 18,000 km2 of land for petroleum and gas exploration will be released in the state of Queensland, northeast Australia, to exploit gas to power local manufacturing and generate LNG royalties, the Queensland government said October 12.
It said the land in the Surat, Bowen, Eromanga and Adavale Basins is being released as part of the state's Annual Exploration Program for 2017-18.
“Many of the petroleum and gas blocks are greenfield sites, and I encourage new and local players, as well as junior explorers to enter the Queensland market,” natural resources and mines minster Anthony Lynham said.
“The solution to gas shortages is more gas and Queensland continues to do the heavy lifting on supply and policy initiatives, like our pilot of land for the domestic market only,” he said.
Queensland director of gas industry body APPEA, Rhys Turner, said that the announcement showed that Queensland continues to lead the way in gas development and called on other states to follow suit.
Australia’s eastern seaboard gas market, which includes Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania, is facing a potential gas shortage within the next couple of years.
“New South Wales and Victoria should follow Queensland’s lead by encouraging the safe and responsible development of their own gas supply,” Turner said.
He said he predicts that Queensland gas will continue to supply customers in the southern states where governments have opposed the exploration and development of onshore gas.
“They should put the interests of families and businesses first instead of pandering to activist campaigns with unscientific bans and restrictions,” he concluded.
Nathan Richardson