CopperString 2025 Review: QIC Takes the Wheel to Deliver North Queensland's Critical Energy Link

After facing significant challenges, Queensland's massive CopperString transmission project has been saved and recalibrated by the government's Energy Roadmap, with the Queensland Investment Corporation (QIC) now overseeing its delivery. The QIC CopperString Review Report underpins a new, pragmatic plan to contain costs and accelerate the connection of the North West Minerals Province to the National Electricity Market (NEM), unlocking huge economic potential for the region.

The QIC CopperString Review Report 2025 serves as the foundational analysis for the Queensland Government’s accelerated and restructured delivery plan for the CopperString project, a vital 840 km transmission line connecting Townsville to Mount Isa and the North West Minerals Province. The review and the subsequent Roadmap announcement followed massive cost escalations that threatened the project's viability. The report's findings have led to key measures designed to ensure the project delivers value for money and provides the best economic outcome for Queenslanders.

A major outcome of the review is the appointment of QIC to oversee the project's delivery, working in partnership with the Government-owned transmission company, Powerlink. This partnership leverages QIC's expertise in infrastructure investment and its ability to attract private sector capital, while relying on Powerlink's transmission experience. The shared objective is to deliver the project in a way that maximises value for Queenslanders and drives economic benefits for North and North West Queensland.

The report directly contributed to $2.1 billion in early cost savings by recommending a change in scope for the project’s Eastern Link (Hughenden to Townsville). This section of the line will revert from an unnecessarily expanded 500kV capacity back to its original design of 330kV. The Eastern Link remains a priority to connect to the National Electricity Market sooner, with major construction targeted for 2028 and completion by 2032, pending federal approvals. Early works are also set to begin on the $225 million Flinders Substation.

To support communities and the Western Link (Hughenden to Mount Isa), the plan includes a $200 million North West Energy Fund. This fund is dedicated to exploring and developing bespoke local generation and storage solutions in remote towns like Mount Isa, Cloncurry, Julia Creek, and Richmond. This strategy aims to improve energy affordability and reliability in the North West sooner than a purely large-scale transmission approach could achieve. The overall plan is part of a $2.4 billion government investment commitment to save and deliver this critical regional infrastructure.

For more details, you can access the full content of the Report via the following link: QIC CopperString Review Report 2025.