Planning for growth expands beyond the Territory's borders.
The Territory has an important role to play in contributing to Australia's energy security.
The estimated reserves contained in the Beetaloo Sub-basin have the potential to support low emissions energy security on the East Coast, where shortfalls in domestic gas supply have been projected from 2027.
Natural gas will play a critical role in Australia’s energy security and supporting the transition to a lower emissions economy. As the share of renewables increases for electricity generation, gas will be critical to support energy security, reliability and affordability.
Gas will remain an important source of energy and feedstock for industrial users and gas-powered generation even as residential demand declines.
What are we doing
The NT Government is supportive of onshore gas industry development in the NT, recently releasing its updated NT Gas Strategy and establishing the Beetaloo Project Management Office.
Significant planning is also underway for critical infrastructure and services to support Industry’s investment in the Beetaloo as it progresses towards production activities.
Future production in the Beetaloo Sub-basin will require new infrastructure to be built, including new gas processing facilities, pipelines and enhanced supporting infrastructure (such as road, rail, aviation and utility infrastructure) which will also benefit other users in the region.
The Territory is seeing considerable interest in pipeline infrastructure, with APA recently applying for a licence with the NT Government to start constructing its Sturt Plateau Pipeline in the Beetaloo Sub-basin.
This pipeline once built will carry gas from Tamboran’s Shenandoah Pilot project to the Amadeus Pipeline.
The construction of this pipeline is due to start late 2025.
It is important that a pipeline going north from the Beetaloo Sub-basin to Darwin is constructed to fuel future Territory growth. Pre-planning has commenced for the utilisation of gas, from the Beetaloo
Sub-basin at Middle Arm, to add trains to LNG plants and to attract manufacturing to the Territory.
To facilitate the construction of a pipeline from the Beetaloo Sub-basin to Darwin the NT Government has announced the Territory Energy Link, a proposed multi-user, multi-asset infrastructure corridor from Elliot to Darwin.
As a key enabling infrastructure, it will accelerate the delivery of significant projects and investments in the Territory, including development in the Beetaloo Sub-basin.