Australian-listed oil and gas company Strike Energy is moving to Adelaide.

The company says it is making the move to get closer to major South Australian stakeholders, partners and customers for greater operational efficiencies within the organisation.

The relocation will bring together Strike’s corporate and operational offices, and should generate 85 full time jobs – including the transfer of Sydney staff – by 2021.

Strike holds exploration permits and applications for over 9200 square kilometres within the Cooper and Eromanga Basins.

The South Australian Government has given Strike a $990,000 grant to support the company’s growth in the state and to help it become a key producer of gas in the state by 2020.

Strike managing director Stuart Nicholls said the move is “both strategic and pragmatic”.

“The grant from the economic investment fund shows the commitment of the South Australian Government to support further energy security through making South Australia a key focus for Strike’s business,” he said.

“Strike believes that it will benefit significantly from its relocation to Adelaide by bringing its decision making to the source of the information.

“Strike looks forward to supporting further government initiatives and not only generating employment in the short term, but rebuilding natural gas as an affordable, abundant and reliable source of energy for South Australia.”

South Australian mineral resources and energy minister, Tom Koutsantonis said the state is “leading petroleum transformation” in Australia.

“South Australia is becoming the centre of the nation’s gas sector and to have a company of the calibre of Strike Energy relocate its headquarters to Adelaide is further proof of this,” he said.