The Queensland government has launched a tender for 400 megawatts of new gas-fired electricity generation in Central Queensland to strengthen grid reliability and fuel industrial growth.
Managed by the state-owned Queensland Investment Corporation (QIC), the tender process is seeking commercial proposals capable of delivering dispatchable power to the market by 2032.
The initiative is part of the state government’s Energy Roadmap, which aims to boost private sector investment in conventional generation.
Treasurer and Minister for Energy David Janetzki said the tender is a pragmatic step towards building the infrastructure required for a growing state.
“Queensland needs affordable, reliable and sustainable energy, and that means making sure we have the right generation in the system at the right time,” Janetzki said.
“We’re opening the door to private sector investment because Queenslanders expect us to get on with the job of building what our growing state needs for the future, while respecting taxpayer funds and easing pressure on the balance sheet.”
According to government forecasts, Queensland’s gas-fired generation capacity is expected to reach up to 4.1 gigawatts by 2030, before climbing to between 6.1 and 8.3 gigawatts by 2035.
The new Central Queensland asset will be designed to operate flexibly, providing a critical safety net during peak demand periods.
QIC will handle the staged evaluation process, assessing private proponents on project readiness, corporate track record, and the long-term value they can return to Queensland consumers.
The competitive tender process is scheduled to be finalised by the end of this year.
