{"id":623458,"date":"2026-04-22T11:58:18","date_gmt":"2026-04-22T11:58:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/623458\/"},"modified":"2026-04-22T11:58:18","modified_gmt":"2026-04-22T11:58:18","slug":"tiny-outback-town-quilpie-eyes-kuwait-of-queensland-future-as-push-grows-to-unlock-oil-reserves","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/623458\/","title":{"rendered":"Tiny outback town Quilpie eyes \u2018Kuwait of Queensland\u2019 future as push grows to unlock oil reserves"},"content":{"rendered":"

A remote outback town with fewer than 50 people is pitching itself as a future fuel powerhouse, with its mayor declaring the region could ease Australia\u2019s fuel crisis<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Eromanga is known as Australia\u2019s town furthest from the ocean and for being hom some of the country\u2019s largest dinosaur fossils<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Now, local leaders say vast oil reserves could see the region dubbed the \u201cKuwait of Australia\u201d.<\/p>\n

Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today Arrow<\/a><\/p>\n

Quilpie Shire Mayor Ben Hall said the area has a long, proven history of oil and gas production but is being held back at a time when Australia faces ongoing fuel supply pressures amid the Middle East<\/a> conflict<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere is an incredibly strong argument for increasing production on site at Eromanga for local refining, this would allow us to help ease the current fuel supply pressures,\u201d he told 7NEWS.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt a time when global fuel markets remain volatile, it makes sense to maximise what we have onshore and close to where it\u2019s needed.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"AA welcome sign greets travellers arriving in Eromanga, a tiny outback town in southwest Queensland. Credit: Quilpie Shire Council\"TheThe vast outback landscape surrounding Eromanga, where oil and gas reserves lie beneath the surface. Credit: Outback Queensland\"QuilpieQuilpie Shire Mayor Ben Hall. Credit: 7NEWS<\/p>\n

The region sits on the edge of the Lake Eyre Basin, which spans about 1.2 million square kilometres, and above the Cooper Basin, both known for significant oil and gas reserves.<\/p>\n

At the centre of the push is the Eromanga refinery, operating since 1986, producing about 635 barrels a day, or roughly 10.25 megalitres of diesel each year, but currently running below capacity.<\/p>\n

Hall said existing infrastructure and proven reserves in the Cooper Basin make it a logical place to increase production.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor more than 40 years, this region has quietly delivered oil production without environmental incident, a track record that stands up under any level of scrutiny,\u201d he said in a press release.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur oil is so pure it is used primarily for underground mining due to its low emission.\u201d<\/p>\n

However, current policy settings, including the Regional Planning Interests (Lake Eyre Basin) Amendment Regulation 2024, are limiting further extraction in the region.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur region is bound by regulation that currently restricts any further oil being taken from the Cooper Basin,\u201d he said, stressing that unlocking those reserves would also reduce pressure on key freight routes.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re only around 1000km from Brisbane<\/a>,\u201d Hall said.<\/p>\n

\u201cLocal production, rather than transporting oil on the Warrego Highway to Eromanga, would also take pressure off road infrastructure which is set to be negatively impacted by increased large freight movements.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"AnAn IOR sign highlights Eromanga\u2019s remote location, marking it as the furthest service station from the sea. Credit: IOR\"EromangaEromanga is known for dinosaur discoveries rather than oil production. Credit: Outback Queensland\"TheThe refinery in Eromanga is owned and operated by IOR (Inland Oil Refinery) and has been since 1986. Credit: IOR<\/p>\n

The renewed focus comes as oil from the Taroom Trough<\/a>, Australia\u2019s first new oilfield in half a century, begins to come online.<\/p>\n

Located about five hours west of Brisbane, the site is already producing in small quantities, with the first oil now feeding into Australia\u2019s supply.<\/p>\n

But Hall said the Taroom Trough currently has only a handful of wells operating, compared to the Cooper Basin, which has hundreds of wells with known capacity.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have been called the Kuwait of Australia, and when you consider what we\u2019re sitting on that\u2019s not overstating the oil reserves that can be safely accessed in our region,\u201d he said in the press release.<\/p>\n

With demand growing, he is calling for a rethink of both state and federal restrictions, including the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe next logical step is to ensure the Cooper Basin and greater Lake Eyre Basin isn\u2019t constrained from helping Australia at this time of need,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Hall said discussions are already underway to expand the Eromanga refinery and scale up domestic production.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019d love to see it equally well known for being at the centre of the nation\u2019s fuel future,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Queensland<\/a> Premier David Crisafulli<\/a> is backing expanded drilling at the Taroom Trough.<\/p>\n

\u201cI want to see a time in this nation when we return to drilling, refining and storing our own fuel,\u201d he said at the site\u2019s unveiling in early April.<\/p>\n

While Australia imports most of its fuel from Asia<\/a>, those refineries rely heavily on crude oil from the Middle East, meaning disruptions there quickly push up costs and tighten supply, driving up prices at the bowser<\/a> across the country.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

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