QIC will lead a new investor gateway designed to attract and coordinate private capital investment in Queensland’s energy sector in partnership with Government Owned Corporations (GOCs).
The Queensland Government today announced the State would leverage QIC’s market connections and infrastructure expertise to accelerate delivery of new energy transmission, generation and storage projects in Queensland.
Under this new approach, QIC will play a unique and central role in connecting investors and developers with opportunities on priority energy projects offering scale, diversification and compelling risk-adjusted returns.
Under the Queensland Government’s Energy Roadmap, QIC’s mandate includes:
- Attracting private sector capital to drive new investment in energy infrastructure
- Matching investor interest with GOC portfolio needs, including through project partnerships and contracting opportunities
- Developing innovative and blended finance approaches to optimise outcomes for the State and investors.
To support this initiative, the Queensland Government has established the Queensland Energy Investment Fund, mandating QIC to leverage government capital to attract new domestic and international investment into energy transmission, generation and storage projects across the state.
QIC will identify, negotiate, execute and manage direct and indirect investments that deliver physical generation and storage assets.
QIC CEO Kylie Rampa said the initiatives underscored the importance of mobilising private capital to meet Queensland’s future energy needs.
"Having invested in the energy sector for more than 16 years, QIC recognises Queensland as one of the most significant infrastructure investment opportunities in Australia and an important market from a global allocation perspective."
Kylie Rampa - CEO
“Today’s announcement delivers a clear and credible pathway for investors to partner with the Queensland Government on projects underpinned by long-term policy alignment and commercial discipline.
“QIC will leverage its deep and established relationships and capabilities to not only connect domestic and global institutional investors with credible, state-backed projects, but to structure transactions aligned to client objectives.
“In doing so, we can provide clients with access to compelling opportunities in a market with material scale and potential to deliver strong investment outcomes."
QIC Head of Global Infrastructure Ross Israel said this approach reflects a pragmatic, partnership-driven model to accelerate energy investment.
“Institutional investors are actively seeking credible, scalable entry points into Australia’s energy transition, and Queensland stands as a real state of opportunity for investment across its energy value chain,” Mr Israel said.
“This initiative provides clarity of pipeline, alignment of interests and the assurance of Government-backed delivery for investors.
“By aligning capital with the needs of Queensland’s GOCs and energy system, we can unlock investment at a pace and scale that meets generation, storage and resilience requirements for the network and consumers.
“QIC’s mandate combines our fiduciary investment discipline with our deep market knowledge and conviction in the energy transition, creating investable pathways that deliver for both our clients and for Queensland.”
As part of the Energy Roadmap, QIC will also:
- Expand oversight to include assessments of Mount Rawdon, Capricornia and Big-T pumped hydro projects, in addition to Borumba, ensuring a coordinated state-led approach for assessment and investment in longer duration hydro energy storage.
- Oversee an accelerated pathway to deliver CopperString, delivering the Eastern Link by 2032 (subject to approvals) and progressing the Western Link.
- Partner with private capital and developers to deliver priority energy projects in and around Mt Isa, Cloncurry, Julia Creek and Richmond via a new government commitment of $200 million to support the delivery of local storage and generation solutions for the North West Minerals Province to maximise the benefit of the Western Link in the future.
- Commence a market sounding ahead of a Central Queensland Gas Power Tender in the first half of 2026 for up to 400MW of gas fired generation capacity to be operational by 2032.
QIC’s review of the CopperString project identified a preferred approach to take the project forward, including establishing an entity to deliver the Eastern Link as a regulated asset, and is expected to drive more than $10 billion in private sector renewables investment.
QIC’s specialist energy and utilities division currently manages $8 billion in energy transition assets across Australasia with a global portfolio generating 7.9 terawatt-hours of electricity last financial year.
To find out more about QIC’s role in the Energy Roadmap, visit qic.com/QLD-Energy.
