Electricity supply options for the North West Minerals Province

This consultation has now closed, and we are reviewing the responses.

Queensland’s North West Minerals Province (NWMP) is a vital contributor to the state’s economy.

Located in north-west Queensland, the province is rich in new economy minerals – minerals to power Queensland’s energy transformation, support local jobs and global decarbonisation efforts.

Queensland has the renewables above the ground and critical minerals below the ground to be a clean energy powerhouse. Queensland has affordable, reliable energy to power industries, and the low carbon supply chains needed as we move towards net zero emissions.

The NWMP is one of the world’s richest mineral producing areas containing copper, lead and zinc as well as major silver phosphate deposits, and strong rare earth potential.

North West Queensland plays a vital role in supplying much needed minerals for the world’s technology boom, and for the manufacturing of renewable energy systems. Demand for minerals from the province is set to increase as they can be used in electric and hybrid vehicles, lithium batteries, wind turbine generators and solar panels.

The renewable energy sector provides many opportunities to diversify the region’s economy and develop the region as a major clean energy provider.

Connecting the NWMP to the National Electricity Market (NEM) may assist in:

  • diversifying the economy
  • unlocking new economy minerals
  • supporting decarbonisation of the resources sector
  • supporting value-adding and specialised processing operations for minerals
  • promoting ethical and environmentally responsible resource industries.

Given the importance of the NWMP’s resources to Queensland’s future, the Queensland Government is investigating options to deliver an affordable, secure, reliable, and sustainable electricity supply in the province and support its economic growth.

About the consultation

Electricity is currently supplied to customers in and near Mount Isa and Cloncurry through the North West Power System (NWPS), which is inside the 375,000 square kilometre province.

Due to its remote location, the NWPS is not connected to the NEM and its large commercial and industrial customers pay a higher delivered cost of electricity than similar energy users connected to the NEM.

Electricity users in the province who are not connected to the NWPS receive their power mainly from local generation. Industrial consumers in the NWMP need access to renewable energy sources to reduce their emissions profiles.

What we want to know

Three options for electricity supply to the NWMP have been identified for consideration. These are presented in the Electricity supply options for the North West Minerals Province Consultation Regulatory Impact Statement (CRIS).

Option 1: Business as usual

The NWMP remains supplied by local generation.

This supply could evolve to include low-cost renewables.

Option 2: NEM-connection through the CopperString project

A privately-owned and operated transmission line, connecting Mount Isa to the NEM near Townsville.

The transmission line would require a range of derogations from national electricity law to operate in the NEM with the regulatory certainty sought by the proponent.

Option 3: NEM-connection Powerlink or other state entity

Considers the impact of connecting the NWMP to the NEM, with the project assessed and regulated as closely as possible to the National Electricity Law and Rules.

Queensland’s North West Minerals Province (NWMP) is a vital contributor to the state’s economy.

Located in north-west Queensland, the province is rich in new economy minerals – minerals to power Queensland’s energy transformation, support local jobs and global decarbonisation efforts.

Queensland has the renewables above the ground and critical minerals below the ground to be a clean energy powerhouse. Queensland has affordable, reliable energy to power industries, and the low carbon supply chains needed as we move towards net zero emissions.

The NWMP is one of the world’s richest mineral producing areas containing copper, lead and zinc as well as major silver phosphate deposits, and strong rare earth potential.

North West Queensland plays a vital role in supplying much needed minerals for the world’s technology boom, and for the manufacturing of renewable energy systems. Demand for minerals from the province is set to increase as they can be used in electric and hybrid vehicles, lithium batteries, wind turbine generators and solar panels.

The renewable energy sector provides many opportunities to diversify the region’s economy and develop the region as a major clean energy provider.

Connecting the NWMP to the National Electricity Market (NEM) may assist in:

  • diversifying the economy
  • unlocking new economy minerals
  • supporting decarbonisation of the resources sector
  • supporting value-adding and specialised processing operations for minerals
  • promoting ethical and environmentally responsible resource industries.

Given the importance of the NWMP’s resources to Queensland’s future, the Queensland Government is investigating options to deliver an affordable, secure, reliable, and sustainable electricity supply in the province and support its economic growth.

About the consultation

Electricity is currently supplied to customers in and near Mount Isa and Cloncurry through the North West Power System (NWPS), which is inside the 375,000 square kilometre province.

Due to its remote location, the NWPS is not connected to the NEM and its large commercial and industrial customers pay a higher delivered cost of electricity than similar energy users connected to the NEM.

Electricity users in the province who are not connected to the NWPS receive their power mainly from local generation. Industrial consumers in the NWMP need access to renewable energy sources to reduce their emissions profiles.

What we want to know

Three options for electricity supply to the NWMP have been identified for consideration. These are presented in the Electricity supply options for the North West Minerals Province Consultation Regulatory Impact Statement (CRIS).

Option 1: Business as usual

The NWMP remains supplied by local generation.

This supply could evolve to include low-cost renewables.

Option 2: NEM-connection through the CopperString project

A privately-owned and operated transmission line, connecting Mount Isa to the NEM near Townsville.

The transmission line would require a range of derogations from national electricity law to operate in the NEM with the regulatory certainty sought by the proponent.

Option 3: NEM-connection Powerlink or other state entity

Considers the impact of connecting the NWMP to the NEM, with the project assessed and regulated as closely as possible to the National Electricity Law and Rules.

  • This survey has closed.

    This consultation has now closed, and we are reviewing the responses.