PERTH (miningweekly.com) – The Queensland government on Friday released more than 16 400 km² of land in the state’s north-west and south-west for petroleum and gas exploration.

Queensland Minister for Natural Resources and Mines Andrew Cripps said the Queensland government had released land in six areas for petroleum and gas exploration through a noncash competitive tender.

“This release of land delivers on the government’s election promise to grow resources as one of the four pillars of the economy,” Cripps said, adding that new discoveries could deliver strong economic benefits for Queensland and potentially create tens of thousands of jobs.

“It is vital we continue to have ongoing exploration as we still have large potential resources in the ground. Any discoveries made during exploration have the potential to generate wealth and create jobs for Queenslanders, particularly in the regions.”

Cripps said the land available through tenders was located south of Normanton, north of Camooweal, in far north-west Queensland, and in areas to the west of Quilpie.

“Queensland’s mining industry will benefit from the release of underexplored land, considered to be frontier areas with little or no previous exploration,” he said.

“The land we are releasing has potential for new discoveries of both conventional and unconventional petroleum resources, and the area to the west of Quilpie possibly contain oil resources as well.

“Discovery and development of these resources has the potential to improve energy security to some of Queensland’s most important mining areas in the west and north-west of the state.”

The Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association (Appea) said on Friday that the release of petroleum and gas exploration acreage could have significant long-term economic benefits and boost the state’s reputation as an investment destination.

Appea COO for eastern Australia Paul Fennelly said that the Queensland government continued to establish plans that would allow the next generation of the state’s resources to be developed.

“It clearly recognises that petroleum and gas production is underpinned by exploration that can potentially attract further investment, generate prosperity and create jobs.”

Fennelly pointed out that this growth need not be achieved at the expense of the environment, adding that Queensland’s existing legislative and strict regulatory framework provided certainty for all stakeholders and highlighted what could be achieved when all stakeholders worked together towards the shared goal of growing the economy.

“A strong resource exploration sector is the backbone of the petroleum industry,” he added.

The call for tenders closes on September 29.