Chief Minister of the Northern Territory
Mark Monaghan
Minister for Mining
Media Release
New Player enters Territory's highly prospective Energy Region
6 June 2024
The Lawler Labor Government is continuing to back the industries that get the Territory working, with a new company entering the onshore gas industry.
Top End Energy is the newest explorer to enter the highly prospective McArthur Basin, parent basin of the Beetaloo Sub-basin which is worth an expected $17 billion dollars to the Territory's economy, joining global energy players Tamboran Resources, Empire Energy and Santos.
Top End Energy, on behalf of Territory Gas Aust, has been granted the 38th Petroleum Exploration Permit in the Territory, this marks a significant milestone allowing the company to progress with exploration to produce onshore gas in the Territory, alongside natural hydrogen and helium.
The Petroleum Exploration permit allows Top End Energy to explore from an identified section of land located south-west of the town of Elliott, with preliminary studies suggesting the area is highly prospective for shale gas, natural hydrogen and helium.
Concurrently, Top End Energy is in the final stages of acquiring three additional granted exploration permits surrounding the Beetaloo Sub-basin, increasing their investment and confidence in the Territory's onshore gas industry.
This comes as other key players in the prospective region near final investment decision, including Tamboran Resources and Empire Energy, which recently raised over $46 million to progress with drilling.
Supporting the growth of the Territory's onshore natural gas industry will provide thousands of working opportunities for Territorians, support local businesses and secure our energy supply long into the future.
Quotes attributed to Chief Minister, Eva Lawler:
"We're backing the industries that get the Territory working - and that means growing our onshore gas industry to create work opportunities for Territorians and support local businesses throughout the Territory.
"Our clear commitment to the natural gas industry is attracting investment, supporting economic growth and securing affordable gas to power Territory homes for years into the future.
"The strong pipeline of private investment entering our onshore gas industry signifies confidence in our region, it signifies major growth to our economy and it signifies more opportunities for Territorians.
Quotes attributed to Minister for Mining, Mark Monaghan:
"Natural Gas is the way of the future and the Beetaloo Sub-basin holds some of the world's largest reserves of the highly sought after energy source. We are pleased to welcome Top End Energy to the Territory and look forward to continue working with them as they advance in the McArthur Basin.
"The Lawler Labor Government is leveraging our largely untapped resources to attract more private investment, which will in turn reduce your power bills, build more critical infrastructure and create more working opportunities in new sectors for Territorians.
"Territorians will be the first to benefit from the Lawler Labor Government's backing of our resources industry.
Quotes attributed to Top End Energy Managing Director, Oliver Oxenbridge:
"Receiving the formal grant of EP258 is the culmination of multiple years of engagement and collaboration with our supportive native title holders and the NT Government.
"Being the first exploration permit to be granted in the NT since 2015 is a testament to the dedication of our team and the prospectivity of our acreage position. We appreciate the constructive, collaborative engagement of the NT Government and associated regulatory bodies during the process.
"The grant of the permit enables us to begin exploration activities on the acreage in earnest, with our planned program of activities set to commence with the acquisition of a previously announced Airborne Gravity Gradiometry program.
"In addition to exploring for natural Hydrogen and Helium, we are committed to unlocking much required gas resource, to supply both Territorians and the east coast gas market. We look forward to working with our immediate stakeholders as well as Territory businesses across the supply chain to achieve this objective."
Northern Territory Government
