Queensland-based energy company, Comet Ridge, has been given the green light for a new Bowen Basin based project which will see more gas made available for the domestic market.

Resources Minister Scott Stewart advised that Comet Ridge has been granted an Authority to Prospect (ATP) over a 338 square kilometre parcel of land located in the gas-rich Bowen Basin.

“The new ATP allows Comet Ridge to begin exploration for new sources of gas while utilising their existing gas infrastructure in the region to plug straight in and get gas to market faster.”

“The new Mahalo Far East project will invest about $5.5 million over six years into the state and local economies,” he said.

Comet Ridge Managing Director, Tor McCaul, said the Mahalo Far East block contains a very large gas in place volume and is an important upside addition to the Mahalo Hub area.

“Combining these blocks and sharing one large development for the whole Mahalo Hub area will provide greater efficiency and scale economy, as well as a material injection of gas into the east coast market, at a critical time,” Mr McCaul said.

“Importantly, a proportion of this Mahlo Hub gas is earmarked for the domestic market.”

In the last 12 months the Queensland Government has approved 10 new Authority to Prospect – half of which (1447 square kilometres of new land) have a domestic gas condition which requires any gas that’s found to stay in Australia.

“Supporting exploration in Queensland and maintaining a pipeline of resources projects means more gas for local industry and more jobs,” Minister Stewart said.

“The resources industry has been essential during the COVID-19 global pandemic and will help continue Queensland’s economic recovery.”