Whitebark Energy Limited has taken another step forward in developing its giant Alinya Project with the completion of a cultural heritage survey across the Rickerscote prospect. The survey, which is an essential preparatory measure for the upcoming soil geochemistry testing, confirms that fieldwork meets critical heritage requirements, paving the way for the placement of sensors that will detect hydrogen, helium, and hydrocarbons in the soil. The company, focused on delivering conventional oil and gas while driving a clean energy future through natural hydrogen exploration and geothermal power, will begin the soil sampling mid-August with a 30‐day sampling period. These activities, concentrated on the Rickerscote prospect within the Officer Basin of South Australia, aim to sharpen the understanding of subsurface gas generation and further optimize future well placements. With over 20 prospects identified, the Rickerscote area stands out as one of the largest undrilled, seismically defined, sub-salt structures onshore Australia—a fact that underscores the project’s potential to open a significant new hydrogen, helium and hydrocarbon province in the region. In terms of market sentiment, the news could be seen as bullish for those who view the project’s progression as a strong indicator of future growth and energy innovation. The methodical approach to reducing exploration risk and advancing technical studies may inspire investor confidence, especially among those eager to see Australia take the lead in clean energy exploration. Conversely, some market participants with a more bearish outlook could argue that despite the progress, the inherent risks Linked with exploration programs and long-term returns on such pioneering ventures remain factors to carefully monitor. This mix of enthusiasm for a tangible step forward and caution about the exploration phase is likely to influence trading decisions in the short to medium term.