Queensland Pacific Metals Ltd (ASX:QPM) wholly owned subsidiary, QPM Energy (QPME), has now received all major approvals and native title requirements for development of the Northern Hub — a carbon abatement hub that will utilise the vast amounts of gas emitted during the coal extraction process.
The Northern Hub is 43 kilometres north of the Moranbah project, in the Northern Bowen Basin, an area known for high gas volumes. Here, QPME wants to increase waste gas collection and production through new infrastructure.
QPME sought regulatory approvals for development of the Northern Hub, including a gas compression facility and high-pressure pipeline to connect into the NQGP infrastructure.
All approvals in place
Queensland state government approvals and execution of an Indigenous Land Use Agreement has already been accomplished.
QPME has now received federal government approval under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act. This means the company can proceed in developing new infrastructure to collect waste gas from coal mines north of existing operations and connect them into the existing North Queensland Gas Pipeline.
There are conditions associated with the federal government approval, but the company says they are typical for this sort of development.
The company notes that the receipt of all approvals for the Northern Hub leaves QPME well positioned in its discussions with coal miners to collect and utilise waste gas in this region. It identified target mines to include Peabody Energy’s North Goonyella mine, Stanmore Resources’ Wards Well mine, and Fitzroy Australia Resources’ Ironbark mine.