Soldier on pledge partner, Senex Energy, delivers on promise of increased domestic natural gas supply
08 . 04 . 2025
Article courtesy of Soldier On – Summer 24-25.
First gas is set to flow from Senex Energy’s $1 billion Atlas natural gas field expansion following the official opening of the Surat Basin facility in Queensland in November.
Senex Energy shareholders, represented by POSCO International Corporation CEO Kyein Lee and Hancock Prospecting Executive Chairman Mrs Gina Rinehart AO were there to mark the significant milestone alongside representatives from all levels of Government and the Wandoan community.
The opening marks a significant milestone in delivering critical gas supply to the east coast market at a time when the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) is predicting shortfalls in coming years.
Senex Energy CEO Darren Stevenson said, as promised, the project is being delivered with the expansion of Atlas and Roma North gas developments to deliver 60 petajoules (PJ) per year. Senex has drilled more than 160 wells, completed construction of the Atlas to Reedy Creek pipeline and the first stage of the processing facility, with gas flowing and commissioning underway.
Consumers will see new critical supply delivered to the east coast market early in 2025.
This is welcome news for households and manufacturers with Senex Energy keeping its promise to supply more reliable natural gas to power our economy and support energy security.
JOBS AND ECONOMIC WIN FOR QUEENSLAND
The project has delivered an economic boost with 95 per cent of the $1 billion project spent within Australia and almost half directed to Queensland.
The investment has created nearly 1,000 jobs, including 700 during construction and 200 ongoing. More than 1.7 million work hours have been logged. The project is expected to inject more than A$200 million into local businesses and communities.
This does more than power our energy sector. It delivers long term economic benefits to Queenslanders with royalties from this multidecade investment helping fund hospitals, roads, and emergency services as we support Australia’s energy transition to net zero.
ENERGY SECURITY FOR AUSTRALIA
We are again seeing Queensland continue to do the heavy lifting in natural gas production.
The Atlas expansion is a win for Queensland, a win for energy security, and a win for a market that needs reliable natural gas to flow to factories and households.
Natural gas is an essential part of the energy transition and is required to support Australia’s continued energy prosperity.
Senex’s success with the Surat Basin expansion sends a signal to the market that natural gas continues to have an important role to play in the energy mix and we need continued investment and development of natural gas supply to deliver essential energy for life.
CERTAINTY FOR MANUFACTURERS AND HOUSEHOLDS
Once this expansion reaches full capacity, the Atlas and Roma North developments will supply up to 60 petajoules of natural gas annually, representing over 10 per cent of the annual domestic natural gas demand on the east coast.
Gas provides around 40 per cent of energy used for manufacturing in Australia and helps drive a $100 billion industry that employs 890,000 people and makes the essential materials for our modern world like steel, bricks, glass and fertilisers.
