Georgina Energy (LON GEX) has taken a major step towards securing the long-awaited EP155 permit in Australia’s Amadeus Basin after agreeing the terms of an Aboriginal Land Rights Agreement with the Central Land Council.
The agreement relates to the Mt Winter prospect, a highly prospective helium, hydrogen and natural gas project located around 70 kilometres west of the producing Mereenie Oil & Gas Field in the Northern Territory.
The ALRA will now be presented to Traditional Owners for approval before being submitted to the Northern Territory Minister for Mines and Energy for formal granting of the permit.
Mt Winter is regarded as one of Georgina’s most significant assets, with independently estimated prospective recoverable resources of 283 billion cubic feet of helium, 214 billion cubic feet of hydrogen and 1.73 trillion cubic feet of hydrocarbon gas on a 2U/P50 basis.
The prospect benefits from a large structural closure exceeding 3,200 acres and targets the same subsalt reservoir system that has previously demonstrated significant helium, hydrogen and hydrocarbon gas concentrations elsewhere within the Amadeus Basin. Historic drilling in the region has recorded helium concentrations of up to 9%, hydrogen concentrations of up to 11.5% and hydrocarbon gas concentrations of up to 40%.
The basin itself is proven as a producing petroleum province. The nearby Mereenie field has been in operation since 1984 and has produced more than 16 million barrels of oil and 250 billion cubic feet of gas, with current annual production of approximately 12 billion cubic feet of gas and 115,000 barrels of oil.
Granting of EP155 would also trigger completion of Georgina’s acquisition arrangements with Mosman Oil & Gas, including a payment of A$300,000 from existing cash resources.
Chief Executive Anthony Hamilton described the agreement as an important milestone after more than 16 years of unsuccessful permitting attempts by previous operators. He thanked the Central Land Council, Traditional Owners and the company’s advisers for helping progress the negotiations.
With the company now advancing both the Mt Winter project and the Hussar prospect in the Officer Basin, Georgina has established two active development programmes. Management expects Hussar to move into drilling during the third quarter of 2026, while Mt Winter advances towards formal permit grant and a planned re-entry and development programme.
For investors, securing EP155 would remove a major permitting hurdle and unlock access to one of the most prospective helium and hydrogen exploration opportunities in Australia.
