The gas industry has released a comprehensive strategic plan aimed at bolstering the Northern Territory’s economy and ensuring reliable, affordable energy for its residents.
Titled Powering the Territory: A plan to unlock the energy and economic potential of the NT, the initiative outlines a collaborative approach between the gas industry, government, and community to achieve a modern industrial vision.
The plan proposes five critical policy actions for the incoming Northern Territory government:
- Ensure energy security for the NT
- Capitalise on economic and employment opportunities in the gas sector
- Streamline approval processes to expedite new gas supply
- Incentivise and support low-emission technologies
- Maintain a robust LNG export industry
Natural gas plays a pivotal role in the Territory’s energy landscape and economy:
- Provides 86 per cent of power generation
- Contributes $5.8 billion in annual economic activity
- Supports over 6,000 local jobs
David Slama, Australian Energy Producers NT Director, emphasised the plan’s importance as a roadmap for unlocking the NT gas industry’s potential.
He highlighted the need for:
- Streamlined approval processes to ensure timely gas supply and energy security
- Regulatory certainty to foster new gas supply and investment in low-emission technologies
- Support for the LNG export sector as a major economic driver
The plan aligns with the NT’s goal of achieving a $40 billion economy by 2030, supporting strong GDP growth.
Slama stressed the central role of gas in the Territory’s cleaner energy future, citing its importance in:
- Power generation for households, businesses, and industry
- Supporting renewable energy deployment
- Facilitating critical mineral processing
With bipartisan support for the NT’s gas industry, the upcoming election presents an opportunity to realise the sector’s potential and drive economic and employment growth.
