Geothermal Energy Resources Regulations 2026

to provide for the elimination and minimisation, so far as is practicable, of risks to public safety, the environment, land, property or infrastructure involved in undertaking geothermal energy operations; and

to prescribe requirements for operation plans; and

to prescribe various administrative matters, fees and other requirements authorised by the Act.

equipment located downhole; and

a blow-out preventer; and

a well-head;

an Act;

an Act of the Commonwealth;

any instrument made or issued under or for the purpose of an Act referred to in paragraph (a) or (b);

is used or constructed for the purpose of extracting geothermal energy resources; or

carries, contains or includes equipment for the drilling, modification, maintenance or repair of a well or ancillary equipment;

the severity of the hazard or risk; and

the state of knowledge about that hazard or risk; and

the availability and suitability of ways to eliminate or minimise that hazard or risk; and

the cost of eliminating or minimising that hazard or risk;

causes, or could have caused, substantial damage to the environment, the integrity of the geothermal energy operation, the immediate area of the operation (whether above or below ground), public safety, land or property; or

is indicative of a possible future incident of the kind referred to in paragraph (a); or

occurs when an operation has not been carried out in accordance with the operation plan;

is under control, in accordance with an accepted well operation management plan; and

is able to contain fluid; and

is not the subject of any unforeseen risk;

has the potential to compromise the well integrity of a well; and

would involve—

a significant threat to the safety of individuals; or

a risk of significant damage to the environment or to the geothermal energy resource.

that has an in situ temperature of less than 70°C, when measured in a manner approved by the Secretary; or

that is less than one kilometre below the earth's surface.

has an in situ temperature of less than 70°C, when measured in a manner approved by the Secretary; or

is less than one kilometre below the earth's surface.

all information that is reasonably necessary to enable the Minister to assess whether a geothermal energy resource exists in the licence area and whether the exploitation of the resource is likely to be commercially feasible;

a map indicating the area of the resource and stating the likely area of the resource in square kilometres, together with all information that is reasonably necessary to enable the Minister to determine the appropriate area of the licence taking into account the requirements of the Act.

For the purposes of section 51(2) of the Act, a geothermal energy extraction development plan must contain—

a description of each stage of the geothermal energy operation, including equipment or facilities to be used; and

a description of the relevant existing geological and geothermal energy resource data that relates to the authority area and of the interpretations of that data; and

details of proposed further data acquisition and studies to enhance geological and geothermal energy resource understanding; and

a geothermal energy resource management plan that—

describes how the geothermal energy is to be extracted; and

provides the reasons for adopting the proposed approach; and

estimates the future performance of the geothermal energy resource; and

specifies the proposed rate of recovery of geothermal energy.

The holder of an authority must ensure that the geothermal energy extraction development plan is reviewed within one year after the initial geothermal energy extraction (unless the Minister agrees to a longer period) and then at intervals not exceeding one year.

An operation plan given to the Minister under section 96(1) of the Act—

must be appropriate for the nature and scale of the geothermal energy operation; and

must set out the following for the purposes of section 96(1)(d) of the Act—

a description of the geothermal energy operation and the equipment and facilities to be used in the operation;

if a facility is proposed for a geothermal energy operation—

the proposed design, construction, installation and maintenance of the facility; and

if the facility is to be modified, details of the proposed modification; and

the proposals for the decommissioning of the facility;

an environment management plan in accordance with Division 2;

if the operation involves geothermal energy exploration, a statement of the activities referred to in section 5 of the Act that are proposed to be carried out;

if the operation involves the making of a well, a well operation management plan in accordance with Division 3;

processes for review of the risks identified in the plan by the holder of the authority whenever there is a significant change in the risks that the geothermal energy operation may pose;

processes for review of the plan by the holder of the authority at least once every 5 years;

processes for the submission to the Minister of a report by the holder of the authority on the findings of each such review.

The details included in the operation plan under subregulation (1) must be sufficient to show whether the facility is adequate for the proposed geothermal energy operation.

If the holder of an authority gives the Minister an operation plan, the Minister may, by notice in writing, require the holder to provide any additional information that the Minister considers to be relevant to acceptance of the plan.

describe the environment, including any relevant values and sensitivities; and

describe any relevant cultural, historical, aesthetic, social, recreational, ecological, biological, landscape and economic aspects of the environment that may be affected by the geothermal energy operation; and

identify any communities, land or property in the vicinity of the operation and any geothermal energy or geothermal energy resource that the operation might affect.