Queensland Announces 2020 Exploration Programme
The Queensland government February 8 released the 2020 Queensland exploration programme (QEP) which will open more than 7000 km2 of land for coal, gas and petroleum exploration.
The programme provides a release schedule of exploration opportunities for petroleum and gas, and coal across Queensland in 2020. It outlines the tender process and provides details on the location of each exploration tender area and the timing of each competitive tender process.
In the 2020 programme the proposed tenders are scheduled to open for coal in March and petroleum in April, with land awarded to successful bidders by September 2020. The government is offering 12 oil and gas areas in the Bowen and Surat basins. The tender areas provide opportunities for coalbed methane and other unconventional gas, and for conventional oil and gas exploration.
“Under this QEP, tender areas will be released for petroleum and gas exploration to support both domestic supply and the liquefied natural gas (LNG) export industry,” the government said.
In order to unlock additional gas supply for the domestic market, some tender areas will be released subject to an Australian market supply condition. This condition ensures that any gas produced from those areas is supplied exclusively to the domestic market, the government said.
The Queensland Resources Council (QRC) has welcomed the state government’s 2020 QEP. QRC CEO Ian Macfarlane said the release of land for exploration for all resources was essential in creating new jobs, growing exports and supporting regional Queensland.
“We have been very supportive of the release of areas for exploration for all resources and the development of gas to service the domestic market. A proactive exploration programme secures tomorrow’s resource industry while supporting jobs, many of which will be in regional Queensland,” Macfarlance said.
Macfarlane said Queensland’s neighbours must take a leaf out of Queensland's book and develop their own onshore gas reserves. New South Wales and Victoria cannot expect Queensland to continue to supply and subsidise, their own gas users. he said.