Broad support for game-changing transmission plans

Key regional economic development group MITEZ will look to support CopperString 2.0 by helping tackle construction issues such as skills shortages and housing availability. MITEZ (Mount Isa to Townsville Economic Development Zone) chief executive officer Maria James welcomed news of State Government plans to deliver the $5 billion energy project. MITEZ chief executive officer Maria James. By connecting the North-West Minerals Province to the National Electricity Market (NEM), the long-anticipated transmission project should bring reliable power at a lower cost - overcoming a major hurdle to investment in the region, she said. MITEZ would look to support the construction of that infrastructure, she said. "We're acutely aware of skill shortages, housing shortages in the region and I think that's where MITEZ has to be able to help, with the things that will enable the construction to start and take place," she said. "We need to be in there trying to get skilled labour through whatever schemes we have, whether that's domestic or overseas. We need to make sure we get affordable housing in the regions. Where are we housing these these workers? "That, I think to me initially, is where MITEZ has to come to the fore." She said lower energy costs would be the deciding factor that could extend some existing projects and get proposed developments over the line. It would also be the key to boosting local manufacturing, Ms James said, while helping advance renewable energy projects along the corridor. Abundance of renewable energy resources Renewable and green tech company Edify Energy's chief executive officer John Cole said the CopperString 2.0 transmission line would unleash an abundance of the very best wind and solar resources and, in turn, the production of bulk green hydrogen energy products that could be exported to the world. "Investment in electrical infrastructure and the advancement of renewables is critical for Australia’s future prosperity and our environment’s survival. Today’s announcement is a win for both,” he said. Julia Creek vanadium proponent QEM sees CopperString as a transformational project for North and North-West Queensland "CopperString will harness the wind and solar resource along the corridor and provide the reliable and affordable to access to electricity to develop and process the critical minerals in the North-West Minerals Province," managing director Gavin Loyden said. "Based on its environmental impact statement, which has been approved by the Queensland and Australian governments, CopperString will run through the western portion of QEM’s Julia Creek vanadium and oil project.” Member for Traeger Robbie Katter. Member for Traeger Robbie Katter was celebrating the CopperString news, saying the project was about unlocking the underground wealth the North West had been gifted and building opportunity off the back of that blessing. "The North West Minerals Province has amongst the highest industrial power prices in the world but now, with the building of the CopperString line imminent, this will no longer be our burden to bear," he said. "There is at least $750 billion worth of critical minerals in the ground to be mined, much of which will be used to build and power the technologies of tomorrow. "I would like to thank the Queensland Premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk, for seeing the value in our region and supporting this project as she said she would. "North Queensland, the future is ours."

Broad support for game-changing transmission plans

Industry Queensland

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