Western Australia to open tender for 21 geothermal areas

Western Australia (source: flickr/ Dinaiz, creative commons)

The Government of Western Australia under Premier Mark McGowan has announced that 21 geothermal exploration areas have been identified and will be open for bidding. These areas are within the Perth Basin, Canning Basin, and the South-West and Pilbara Regions and cover more than a cumulative 81,900 square kilometers. The nomination period for the acreage release closes on April 21, 2022.

The geothermal acreage release was opened after several companies expressed interest in securing titles in Western Australia. The Department of Mines, Industry Regulation, and Safety had already conducted environmental assessments on these lands, as well as planning for land use and native title considerations.

Successful bidders can apply for six-year geothermal exploration permits. However, exploration can only be done outside of town site boundaries, national parks, or reserves with high conservation value.

Maps of the tender areas, as well as more details about the application process, can be accessed in the official Geothermal Acreage site of the Government of Western Australia.

Source: Government of Western Australia