New coal exploration opportunities available in Queensland

The Queensland Government has opened five new areas of Queensland’s Bowen Basin for tenders to explore for coking and thermal coal.

Natural Resources, Mines and Energy Minister, Dr Anthony Lynham, last month announced that tenders had opened for exploration in five areas of Queensland’s Bowen Basin with potential for coking and thermal coal. The areas, totalling 458 square kilometres, are open via competitive tender with a cash bid component. Tenders close at 2.30 pm (Australian Eastern Standard Time) on Thursday 10 October 2019.

Source: Queensland Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Energy.

The five areas, made up of 147 sub-blocks, include the following:

• one 60 square kilometre area north-east of Moranbah with metallurgical coal potential

• three areas, each six square kilometres, east of Blackwater with thermal coal potential or Pulverised Coal Injection (PCI) coal potential

• one 380 square kilometre area south-east of Emerald with thermal coal potential.

The new blocks have access to the Bowen Basin’s existing rail and port infrastructure at Hay Point and Gladstone.

The Queensland Government has called for companies that have adequate financial capabilities and the right skills to explore, develop and take the resources to market and drive growth in regional Queensland. Preferred tenderers must meet environmental, native title and other approval requirements and complete land access requirements before on-ground exploration can commence.

For further information on the tender process for these new coal exploration areas, please contact Andrew Corkhill.