The University of Queensland has announced plans to establish a new centre of excellence within the Sustainable Minerals Institute for research and education in coal seam gas.

 

The University plans to see the Centre for Coal Seam Gas become a ‘pre-eminent global authority on vital issues relating to CSG’.

 

“The new centre, backed by the UQ's global research capabilities, will undertake critical research that will drive sustainable practice in this emerging industry, and bring the scientific rigour and data that have been lacking to date to the social, environmental and technical challenges the industry faces," SMI Director Professor Chris Moran said.

 

“The Sustainable Minerals Institute appreciates there is a degree of public anxiety around CSG, as highlighted by independent MP Tony Windsor's call to use some proceeds from Minerals Resource Rent Tax for more research on this energy source.

 

“We believe the best way to address this issue is by establishing a centre that, after two years of planning, has an agreed governance structure that will facilitate strategic priority setting and cutting edge research activities that deal with the common issues across community, industry and government.”

 

UQ is offering five new professional chairs to develop research programs and provide leadership for research staff and postgraduate students. One professor will lead the centre and the other chairs will focus on the treatment and utilisation of coal seam water, social and community performance, geoscience and petroleum engineering.