Agency specific objectives and performance
| Agency objectives | Indicators | Performance |
|---|---|---|
| Deliver effective, efficient and transparent regulation of the mineral resources, energy resources, energy market sectors and the electrical, plumbing and gas fitting professions | Transition to digital and online regulation and compliance to support business via streamlined government processes, improving efficiency and reducing cost | Finalised a Digital Transformation Strategy and Forward Plan. Completed seismic tape transcription project that will significantly reduce agency and industry data storage and management costs. Completed transition to electronic Certificates of Compliance (eCoC) portal Transitioned the ‘Regulation Roundup’ newsletter to online delivery to tradespersons across the State. |
| Effective stakeholder engagement to streamline regulatory requirements | Adapted internal audit case management and inspection booking systems to leverage efficiencies delivered by eCoC.
| |
| Enable access to lower energy costs for businesses and households by facilitating a clean, secure, reliable, safe and more competitive energy network | Support the delivery of a new electricity interconnector between South Australia and New South Wales |
Government committed $14 million for early works with Project EnergyConnect granted Major Project Status in June 2019 and declared Critical State Significant Infrastructure by Government of New South Wales. ElectraNet submitted the project to the Australian Energy Regulator for formal regulatory approval. |
| Support national energy market reforms to aid an orderly and cost-effective transition to a low emissions future | Put in place regulatory instruments to implement the Retailer Reliability Obligation. | |
| Empower consumers through expanded demand management options and better integration of distributed energy resources |
Led a national regulatory impact assessment process to require demand response capability for selected appliances. Submitted a rule change proposal for an in-market demand response mechanism. | |
| Develop and implement initiatives to accelerate grid-scale and residential storage |
Designed and launched the Home Battery Scheme to provide $100 million in grants, supported by a $100 million Clean Energy Finance Corporation investment to provide low interest loans, for the installation of battery storage systems in up to 40,000 South Australian homes. Designed and implemented the Grid Scale Storage Fund and continued to monitor and contract manage projects supported by the Renewable Technology Fund. Supported Tesla on the implementation of the phase two trial of South Australia’s Virtual Power Plant in South Australian Housing Authority homes to deliver more affordable energy to its tenants. | |
| Facilitate a stable, reliable transition to sustainable energy options |
Led the market process to establish lease arrangements for the temporary power generators. Release of market notice for government supply. | |
| Responsibly increase South Australian exports by growing mineral, energy and renewable resources production | Deliver and promote exploration and precompetitive geoscience initiatives to attract new mineral exploration investment |
Supported establishment of MinEx Cooperative Research Centre to assist greenfield mineral discoveries. Announced the Accelerated Discovery Initiative to support exploration of South Australia’s untapped mineral resources to grow jobs and investment. Finalised collection of extensive pre-competitive geoscience data to inform investors and industry and support the next generation of resource industry growth in the highly-prospective Gawler Craton. |
| Develop and market Cooper-Eromanga and Otway Basin acreage releases to attract new petroleum exploration investment | New petroleum acreages in the Cooper and Otway Basins offered in May 2019 with bids closing November 2019. | |
| Support ongoing delivery of projects to increase availability of locally sourced natural gas | Continued to deliver significant incremental gas supplies to the South Australian market through projects supported financially by the PACE Gas program. | |
| Support the copper, magnetite and emerging mineral sector developments required for global transition to clean energy |
Supported the industry- initiated Magnetite Strategy with agreed new short-term targets. Continued cross-agency management of BHP’s Olympic Dam mining and processing operations and facilitated a proposal for the further expansion of copper production. | |
| Grow future industries and jobs by fostering the expansion of value chain industries and professions that support the mineral, energy and renewable resources sectors | Support State significant economic transformations |
The Steel Task Force continued to lead the government’s role in developing the South Australian steel industry in liaison with the Commonwealth Government. Facilitated in collaboration with the Department for Treasury and Finance the revised Port Pirie Transformation financing arrangements with Trafigura and Nyrstar. Through the Home Battery Scheme attracted sonnen, AlphaESS and Eguana Technologies to manufacture and assemble home batteries in South Australia. |
| Facilitate the development of the emerging clean hydrogen industry in South Australia |
Continued implementation of South Australia’s Hydrogen Roadmap to develop a hydrogen industry in South Australia, and contributed to the development by the CSIRO of a National Hydrogen Roadmap. Monitored progress of using hydrogen and biogas as future fuels including working closely with Australian Gas Networks on its hydrogen injection into gas mains project. | |
| Enhance opportunities for local and Aboriginal participation within industry and engagement activities | Increased employment and business opportunities for Aboriginal people through development and delivery of government and industry partnerships in the Cooper and Eromanga Basins. Coordinated the achievement of improvements in engagement and cultural heritage management between exploration companies and indigenous landowners through the Stronger Partners, Stronger Futures program. | |
| Integration of renewable energy generation sources into remote power stations under the Remote Area Energy Supply scheme | Upgraded power generation systems at four remote power stations in preparation for the integration of renewable power generation sources. |
