Eight of the new permits were granted to companies exploring the greater Carnarvon basin in Western Australia’s north. The remaining two permits focus on the south-east region, near Esperance.
The Carnarvon basin was the second area of Western Australia released to competitive bidding for geothermal exploration. New World Energy received seven of the eight permits awarded in this region while Geothermal Energy received the other.
The south-east area was the subject of Western Australia’s third geothermal acreage release. The two permits in this area were granted to Greenpower Energy and cover a combined area of 10,732sqkm, with total work program expenditure of $42.9m planned across six years.
Norman Moore, mines and petroleum minister of Western Australia, said: “These new permits granted by the Department of Mines and Petroleum enhance what is becoming a robust geothermal exploration sector.”
