WWF sustainability and sevelopment program leader Paul Toni said when it comes to geothermal Australia is a lucky country.

“We have an opportunity to develop a massive, emissions-free energy source that can power Australia’s homes and businesses while growing jobs,” he said.

With so many jobs up for grabs, Roxby Downs is set to benefit.

Although, AGEA chief executive Susan Jeanes said it was not possible to tell how many jobs specifically would be created in Roxby.

“A significant proportion would be in South Australia and a lot of them across the mining region,” she said.

Southern Gold is already developing geothermal energy projects within the Roxby Downs region.

Managing director Stephen Biggins said the Roxby geothermal project is in an early stage of establishing itself.

Once up and running, it is expected to create a long-term employment.

“The work that we’re doing is using contract workers and for the early stages that’s likely to be the case,” he said.

“It might source a small number of jobs, as the project matures but first we need to prove to ourselves commercially that the project is viable.”

Mr Biggins said the project has the potential to create new jobs in the region as well as attract more industry around a new source of power.

“At this stage, it’s too early to tell but we believe the potential to produce huge amounts of power from a geothermal source is significant,” he said.

“I wouldn’t want to overstate a local level of employment but the idea in the long term that it does create that.”