Australia’s APA Group (ASX:APA) has taken a serious step in increasing its gas-powered era footprint, signing a Joint Improvement Settlement with state-owned CS Power to advance the proposed 400MW Brigalow Peaking Energy Plant subsequent to the prevailing Kogan Creek facility in Queensland.
Underneath the pact, APA will finally take an 80% possession stake and lead mission supply, whereas CS Power will retain 20% and function the plant. The mission—focused to start operations in 2028—goals to produce firming capability throughout peak electrical energy demand intervals, backing up the fast build-out of variable renewable vitality in Queensland.
The settlement outlines the pathway for APA to fund early growth, negotiate long-form contracts, and transition into majority possession as soon as authorities and environmental approvals are secured. GE Vernova has been chosen to produce gasoline generators, with last capital expenditure to be decided after detailed engineering in early 2026.
To scale back publicity to wholesale electrical energy markets, APA plans to enter a 25-year hedge offtake settlement with CS Power that can present inflation-linked revenues and a modest variable part for upside. APA stated the mission’s returns are anticipated to fulfill inner funding hurdles and shall be funded from present balance-sheet capability as a part of its A$2.1 billion natural progress pipeline.
The Brigalow mission strengthens APA’s place in gas-powered era at a time when Australia is grappling with reliability challenges tied to the accelerated rollout of renewables and coal retirements. Queensland, particularly, has leaned on gasoline era to agency its bold renewable enlargement, with the state authorities pushing new storage and versatile era capability to keep up system safety.
The plant will connect with APA’s Roma–Brisbane Pipeline through a brand new lateral transport and storage line—coated below a beforehand finalised Challenge Improvement and Fuel Transportation and Storage Settlement from July 2025. This integration permits APA to leverage its present gasoline transmission infrastructure and aligns with its parallel settlement with CS Power for the brand new lateral pipeline.
The mission is positioned as a key contributor to Queensland’s broader energy-transition agenda, supporting each the state’s renewable rollout and its energy-security commitments. APA expects the event to ship worth throughout regional communities and vitality customers, whereas reinforcing investor confidence as the corporate accelerates progress in gasoline transmission, storage, and distant energy belongings.
