en.Wedoany.com Reported - The Queensland Government has announced a record AU$3.2 billion investment in the CopperString transmission project, a major commitment in the state's 2026-27 budget aimed at strengthening power supply in the North West Minerals Province (NWMP).

The CopperString project plans to connect Mount Isa and northwest Queensland to the national grid via Townsville, expected to support existing mining operations and future critical minerals development in the region.

Queensland Resources Council (QRC) Chief Executive Officer Janette Hewson stated that this commitment sends a strong signal to investors considering opportunities in the NWMP. She noted that investors are looking for regions that support future-oriented resource development through infrastructure, including the necessary energy and water infrastructure.

The upcoming Queensland budget will allocate AU$420 million in 2026-27 as part of the broader AU$3.2 billion commitment, an increase of AU$800 million from the AU$2.4 billion pledged in last year's budget.

Reliable power supply remains a major challenge for resource development in northwest Queensland. Hewson said that reliable and affordable energy supply is crucial to unlocking the region's enormous potential to become a major global supplier of critical minerals. The NWMP is estimated to hold critical minerals worth up to AU$700 billion, with abundant resources of copper, zinc, lead, silver, and phosphate.

Construction activities are accelerating, with work already underway at the Flinders substation near Hughenden, and large-scale earthworks scheduled to begin next month.

Queensland Treasurer and Minister for Energy David Janetzki said momentum is building, with workers now breaking ground at the Flinders substation site—an exciting step toward delivering CopperString to the north and northwest. The state government stated that the funding will support the construction of the eastern connection line and preparatory work for the western connection line through the Northwest Energy Fund. The government has also committed AU$200 million to the Northwest Energy Fund to support power generation, energy storage, and reliability projects in the region during CopperString's development.

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