By Tsvetana Paraskova
Australian firms are advancing the development of natural gas resources and gas-powered generation to ensure security of supply, while mining exploration rebounds and rare earths producers report major breakthroughs.
Gas Development Plans
Woodside Energy has signed a cooperation agreement with the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources of Timor-Leste to carry out studies and activities to mature a Timor-based LNG concept (TLNG).
Under the Agreement, Timor-Leste and Woodside will carry out commercial and technical maturation activities for a greenfield Timor-based LNG concept of about 5 million tonnes per annum with a domestic gas facility and a helium extraction plant. These activities will run in parallel to the ongoing negotiation of the fiscal, regulatory, and legal frameworks to support the upstream development of the Greater Sunrise fields between the Sunrise Joint Venture, Timor-Leste, and Australian governments.
This opportunity could be developed into an LNG concept, with first LNG potentially produced in 2032-2035, subject to concept selection and investment decisions.
Woodside CEO Meg O’Neill welcomed the Agreement, saying that “This work is an extension of last year’s concept study and will address the remaining considerations required to reach concept selection, such as agreeing the most appropriate downstream commercial structure to attract financing and understanding the preferred route of the gas export pipeline.”
Energy infrastructure company Jemena, owner of the Northern Gas Pipeline, has released its Northern Territory Gas Strategy – a plan which will utilise existing infrastructure to transport Beetaloo gas to the east coast gas market from as early as 2026.
Commissioned in late 2019, the Northern Gas Pipeline is the only pipeline in the Northern Territory directly connected to Australia’s east coast gas market via Queensland.
Currently, up to 90TJ/d of Beetaloo gas can be transported via the Northern Gas Pipeline to the east coast gas market as soon as production commences in the basin. Under stage two of Jemena’s strategy, the Northern Gas Pipeline will be expanded to increase its capacity by about 45 percent, meaning the pipeline will be able to transport around 130TJ/d of gas from the Beetaloo Basin – roughly 10 percent of typical east coast demand.
Further stages of Jemena’s strategy will see the company explore works to construct a new 370-km pipeline lateral north from the Territory’s Barkly region to the Beetaloo Basin. Work will also be undertaken to further increase the capacity of the Northern Gas Pipeline in line with market demand.
APA Group has partnered with CS Energy to develop and own the proposed Brigalow Peaking Power Plant. The 400-MW gas power station will be located next to CS Energy’s existing Kogan Creek Power Station in Queensland. Once operational in 2028, the project will provide firming capacity for peak electricity demand periods, complementing variable renewable energy.
Development of the project remains conditional and subject to any necessary external and Government approvals, finalisation of several development matters, as well as entry into full form documentation, APA said in December.
Final capital expenditure will be subject to detailed engineering design, which is expected to be completed in the first half of calendar year 2026. GE Vernova has been appointed to deliver the gas turbines for the project, APA noted.
Energy Market Operator Publishes Transition Plan for System Security
Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) published in December its 2025 Transition Plan for System Security—a plan to meet system security needs in the National Electricity Market (NEM) over the next decade to support Australia’s energy transition.
“The report outlines the steps required to replace the system security services provided by coal plants that are retiring and unlock the growing potential of renewable energy, including rooftop solar, to help deliver a smooth transition for consumers,” AEMO chief executive officer Daniel Westerman said.
The coal-fired generation that has powered Australia for decades is retiring and renewable energy, firmed with storage and backed up by gas, presents the lowest-cost pathway to meet consumer needs as well as government energy and emission policies through to 2050, AEMO says.
Tasmania Aims to Lead in Critical Minerals
The Tasmanian Government has released the Tasmanian Critical Minerals Prospectus as it continues to back the growth of the mining and mineral processing sectors.
The prospectus is an investment guide showcasing Tasmania’s unique strengths in critical and strategic material exploration and development.
“Tasmania is one of the most mineralised places on the planet and is uniquely positioned to help supply the minerals that the world needs to power the global demand for advanced and defence technologies,” said
Tasmania’s Minister for Business, Industry and Resources, Felix Ellis.
“This Prospectus captures the scale of the opportunity in front of us. From tungsten on King Island, rare earth elements in the Northeast, and silica deposits in the Northwest,” Ellis said.
Shortly after this announcement, ABx Group Limited said that on its behalf, the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) produced the first mixed rare earth carbonate (MREC) sample from the Deep Leads resource in northern Tasmania. The ABx MREC contains 4.0 percent dysprosium (Dy) and 0.7 percent terbium (Tb) as a percentage of total rare earth oxides (TREO), more than twice that of any other peer MREC.
Furthermore, the ABx MREC also contains the highest amounts of other valuable heavy rare earths and very low impurities, including aluminium, uranium, and thorium.
The high proportions of these high value rare earths means that the ABx MREC basket price is 17 percent to 51 percent higher than all peer MRECs.
“Combined with the resource size, grade and ideal location near existing infrastructure, this means that the Deep Leads project is a highly compelling opportunity,” said ABx Group Managing Director and CEO Mark Cooksey.
“The ABx MREC is likely to be particularly sought after by customers seeking high DyTb and low uranium and thorium.”
Australia’s Mineral Exploration Rebounds
Australian mineral exploration expenditure reached a total of AUS$1.068 billion for the September quarter 2025, an increase of 5.7 percent compared to the June quarter and 5.0 percent higher than a year ago, data by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) showed in December.
The September quarter 2025 saw the highest exploration expenditures since the December quarter 2023, driven by a surge in gold exploration, the Association of Mining and Exploration Companies (AMEC) said.
Spending on gold exploration has surged by 45 percent over the past twelve months, led by greater activity in New South Wales and South Australia, AMEC noted.
Clean Energy Council Praises Federal Environmental Reforms
Australia’s Clean Energy Council (CEC) has welcomed the federal government’s decision to pass long-awaited reforms to Australia’s environmental laws in assessment and approvals processes for renewable energy projects.
“Once enacted, we look forward to seeing stronger results from minimising duplicative processes between the Commonwealth and the states, and delivering a fit-for-purpose, regional-based approach to environmental and biodiversity assessments, critical to delivering the new energy infrastructure we need,” said Clean Energy Council chief executive Jackie Trad.
“Our sector exists because of the need to protect our environment, and not in spite of it. We look forward to working in a more streamlined way in delivering the clean energy rollout in the national interest.”