THE TASMANIAN Government has announced it will grant a special exploration licence to enable a search for geothermal resources in the state.
The Minister for Energy and Resources, David Llewellyn, says Swann & Jenkins will be searching for hot groundwater in deep fracture zones, which it hopes will provide the basis for emissions-free, base-load power generation.
Llewellyn claims there are favourable geological indications for deep geothermal energy in the area, and its existing high voltage power grid and the Basslink cable would facilitate the sale of any electricity produced.
The licence has an area of 450 square kilometres and extends along the East Coast from near Triabunna to Bicheno, excluding national parks.
Swann & Jenkins plans to spend $155,000 in the first two years of the licence term. Initially, gravity and magnetic surveys, with minimal environmental impact, will be undertaken to better understand the deep structure of the area.
Encouraging results will lead to drilling to allow heat flow measurements to be made and to evaluate the area’s geothermal energy potential.
Llewellyn also announced his intentions to grant a mineral retention licence over 268 hectares at Melba Siding to Allegiance Mining.
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