Industry News

Delivering on its year of action, certainty and security, the Finocchiaro CLP Government has launched a new program to equip Territory businesses with the skills they need to grow, compete, and succeed.

Local businesses wanting to increase their profitability and performance can now access free and low-cost training under the CLP Government’s Flexible Skills and Training Response program.

A skilled workforce is vital to business success, but many Territory businesses face barriers to accessing training, including strict eligibility rules, high costs, and inflexible delivery schedules.

Building a bigger, better workforce is a key priority under the CLP Government’s Rebuilding the Economy: NT Economic Strategy 2025, and this program delivers on that commitment.

Minister for Trade, Business and Asian Relations Robyn Cahill said the program is designed to overcome these barriers by delivering affordable training tailored to business needs.

“Small to medium businesses are the engine room of the Northern Territory economy – they are drivers of job creation, innovation, and economic diversification,” Ms Cahill said.

“This program recognises the need to build a workforce with the skills and capabilities needed to grow Territory businesses and rebuild the economy.

“Providing flexible training options is an enabler for business growth, increased employment, and a workforce the Territory needs both now and into the future.”

The Flexible Skills and Training Response program includes a series of face-to-face workshops addressing priority skills and development needs for Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the Territory.

Workshops are targeted at business owners and senior managers of Territory-based SMEs.

Seven providers have been registered under the program and will deliver workshops on topics including AI and automation, financial literacy, de-escalation training, crime prevention through environmental design, ICT systems, tender writing, and procurement skills.

Training will be delivered across every city centre and a number of remote communities over the next 6–12 months.

Michael Hawkes, Managing Director of Captovate, one of the registered providers, said the program directly responds to what local businesses are telling us they need. 

“We understand that the world of AI can feel overwhelming for many. Our aim through these workshops is to demystify AI and empower local businesses to innovate, stay competitive, and lead the way in a rapidly evolving digital economy.”

For more information or to attend a training session in your region, visit the website.

Source: Northern Government Newsroom

As part of its year of action, certainty and security, the Finocchiaro CLP Government has today announced the establishment of a Territory Procurement Champion position to support local businesses to grow.

Minister for Trade, Business and Asian Relations Robyn Cahill said the Territory Procurement Champion is a key part of the CLP Government’s reform agenda to redesign how procurement governance, advocacy and assurance services are delivered to better support local business.

A significant reform program to modernise government procurement practices will be rolled out across 2025 and 2026. The program aims to reduce unnecessary red tape, making government procurement more efficient for all stakeholders, and drive economic growth in the Territory.

From 1 July 2025, the Buy Local Industry Advocate (BLIA) contract will come to a natural end, coinciding with the retirement of the current BLIA, Mr Denys Stedman. The role will not be renewed.

“I want to acknowledge and thank Mr Denys Stedman, who was appointed as the inaugural BLIA in 2018,” said Ms Cahill.

“Mr Stedman’s role championed fair, full and reasonable opportunities for Territory businesses to compete for government contracts.

“I thank him for his hard work and strong advocacy in improving procurement outcomes for local businesses.”

“These procurement reforms are part of the CLP Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and make the Northern Territory the best place in Australia to do business.”

The Buy Local Plan will remain in place to support local businesses to tender for and win government work.

With the cessation of the BLIA role, the Territory Procurement Champion position will be responsible for handling procurement complaints at arm’s length and engaging businesses and government to drive more local procurement outcomes.

An Expression of Interest process will open on 23 June 2025 and close on 14 July 2025.

Source: Northern Territory Government Newsroom

Santos says Barossa remains on track for first gas by Q3 2025, just two days after Middle East O&G giant ADNOC lobbed its $32 billion takeover bid — as the BW Opal FPSO sails into position 285km north of Darwin. 

The Barossa field is considered a strategic prize for ADNOC, offering 3.7 million tonnes a year of LNG and a cost-competitive gateway into Asia-Pacific export markets. 

Santos and joint venture partners SK E&S and JERA have invested more than US$3.95 billion (A$6.07 billion) in the project to date.  

Now with drilling delays behind it, Santos reports five of six production wells are complete, the fifth is undergoing flow testing, and final completion is due this quarter.  

Meanwhile, 262km Gas Export Pipeline and 123km Darwin Pipeline Duplication, is in place. 

Santos CEO Kevin Gallagher described the FPSO's arrival as a "significant milestone" for the long-delayed project, which received final investment approval in 2018.  

"Barossa is a world-class asset and, together with Pikka Phase 1 in Alaska, is expected to deliver a 30% production uplift over the next 18 months," he said. 

The Barossa LNG volumes are largely contracted, with offtakers including Mitsubishi's Diamond Gas, Hokkaido Gas, Shizuoka Gas, TotalEnergies and mining giant Glencore. Gallagher has reiterated that Barossa remains on track to be delivered within its US $4.6–5.8 billion cost guidance, despite legal challenges and earlier delays. 

A $1 billion life extension of the Darwin LNG plant, required to process Barossa gas, is 90% complete.  

The upgrade has supported about 300 jobs and is expected to deliver $100 million annually in supply and service opportunities to Northern Territory businesses. 

Source: Energy News Bulletin 

The Finocchiaro CLP Government is driving development in Central Australia, with the first shipment of Direct Shipping Ore (DSO) from Avenira Limited’s Wonarah Phosphate Project set to proceed following the grant of a Deemed Environmental Mining Licence, commonly known as a Mining Management Plan.

This approval will enable Avenira to advance development at Wonarah to produce up to 1.3 million tonnes of DSO, and the first shipment is expected later this year.

Phosphate is primarily used in the agriculture and fertiliser industries, but demand is growing as it becomes a key feedstock in electric vehicle battery and energy storage facilities.

The initial phosphate DSO will support agricultural productivity, while the future project phases will create opportunities for high-value downstream processing, manufacturing, and investment.

The CLP Government promised 2025 would be a year of action, certainty and security – and this milestone is a clear example of delivering on that commitment.

Minister for Mining and Energy Gerard Maley said the project would deliver long-term economic benefits for the Barkly region.

“The NT Government is laser-focussed on growing the Territory economy and promoting mining and attracting investment is a top priority,” Mr Maley said.

“We want to see more mining projects Avenira’s, move into production, which is why we are providing a regulatory and investment environment that helps get projects off the ground quickly and successfully.

“This project is expected to create up to 100 direct local jobs in Central Australia, with further indirect employment and infrastructure investments flowing from it.”

Located around 245km east of Tennant Creek, Wonarah Project is one of Australia’s largest undeveloped phosphate resources, with a potential mine life of 30-plus years.

Minister for Lands, Planning and Environment Joshua Burgoyne said the project is a strong example of balanced and responsible development.

“This is a great example of our government working with industry to streamline approvals while maintaining strong environmental protections,” he said.

“Projects like Wonarah are critical for the sustainable growth of our regions, and the approval reflects our commitment to efficient, transparent and responsible environmental regulation.”

Avenira Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer, Stephanie Yuan welcomed the milestone approval.

“We are pleased to receive approval of the Mine Management Plan supporting the Company’s proposed mining activities at Wonarah. This approval is a key step toward unlocking our plans to commence operations by Q4 2025,” she said.

“The DSO operations are an important step in the development of a downstream beneficiation plant and Yellow Phosphorus processing facility in the Northern Territory.

We would like to acknowledge and thank the Northern Territory Government for their support and we look forward to continuing our work together.”

Avenira Limited’s Deemed Environmental Mining Licence includes open pit designs and supporting roads and infrastructure.

Under the Environment Protection Act 2019 and the Environment Protection Regulations 2020, an environmental (mining) licence is required before mining activities can commence.

Source: Northern Territory Government Newsroom

Top End Energy is advancing its Northern Territory portfolio as the Beetaloo Sub-basin enters a new phase of multi-well development. The Company is positioning its exploration permits to align with the region’s emerging commercial activity.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Updated EP Work programs: Through its wholly owned subsidiary McArthur Energy Pty Ltd, TEE has updated work programs designed to capitalise on the growing momentum from ongoing appraisal and development activity
• Record Flow Testing in Beetaloo: Tamboran Resources has reported the highest 30-day initial production flow rate in the basin, on par with U.S. Marcellus shale benchmarks 1
• Key Position in Beetaloo: EP 153 and EP 154 are immediately north of Tamboran Resources’ EP98, with a strategic infrastructure advantage, being positioned adjacent to the Amadeus Gas Pipeline
• Beetaloo Enters Development: A decade on from its first unconventional discovery, Tamboran’s dual-rig drilling campaign and Beetaloo Energy’s (formerly Empire Energy) hydraulic stimulation program mark a pivotal shift - signalling the transition from appraisal to full-scale development

Source: Top End Energy

• Hydraulic stimulation has commenced on Beetaloo Energy’s Carpentaria-5H well in Beetaloo Basin permit EP 187
• Carpentaria-5H is the longest horizontal well in the Beetaloo Basin
• Over 60 stimulation stages are planned across the 3,310 metre (10,860 feet), 5 ½” cased horizontal section within the Velkerri B Shale
• The campaign is being conducted by Halliburton with a 42,000 hydraulic horsepower spread to implement a stimulation design with the following enhanced benchmarks:
• • ~100 bbl/minute pump rate
  • >50 bbl/ft slickwater stimulation fluid intensity
  • >2,400 lb/ft proppant (sand) intensity
• The stimulation is expected to take approximately four weeks to complete
• Following completion, Beetaloo Energy will undertake a ~30-day period of cleanup and soak, followed by a 30-day production test Beetaloo Energy expects to release IP30 flow rate results in late Q3 2025
• Carpentaria-5H forms part of the Carpentaria Pilot Project along with Carpentaria-2H and Carpentaria-3H wells that have been previously drilled and stimulated from the same well pad
• Beetaloo Energy’s cash at bank is $40.5 million

“The stimulation of Carpentaria-5H is an historic moment in the development of the Beetaloo Basin. This is the first well in the basin targeting a stimulation across a 3km (2 mile) horizontal section.

Horizontal drilling and hydraulic stimulation revolutionized the United States’ energy system, driving down energy prices and emissions intensity while stimulating economic activity. This is an opportunity that Australia now shares through the development of the Beetaloo Basin.

The Beetaloo Energy team is committed to playing a key role in providing increased gas supply to the Northern Territory market, then the Australian East Coast market, and ultimately the broader region. This, in the success case, will increase the reliability of our energy system, put downward pressure on energy prices and facilitate increased economic growth.

We look forward to sharing the results of the program with shareholders over the coming months.” Alex Underwood, Managing Director

Highlights

• The Shenandoah South 2H sidetrack (SS-2H ST1) well achieved a Beetaloo Basin record average 30-day initial production (IP30) flow rate of 7.2 million cubic feet per day (MMcf/d) over a 5,483-foot (1,671-metre), 35 stage stimulated length within the Mid Velkerri B Shale.
• The flow rate of 13.2 MMcf/d over an extrapolated 10,000-foot horizontal section is in-line with the average of more than 11,000 wells in the Marcellus Shale dry gas area with production for over a 12-month period. The result demonstrates Tamboran’s view of commercial deliverability of gas from the Mid Velkerri B Shale to the East Coast gas market that typically sells at a premium to Henry Hub.
• The exit rate trajectory maintains a steady, low-declining curve at 6.7 MMcf/d (normalized at 12.2 MMcf/d per 10,000-feet) with a flowing wellhead pressure of ~910 psi. The steady state decline curve on SS-2H ST1 is consistent with that achieved from the SS-1H well.
• The Shenandoah South drilling campaign is planned to commence in 2H 2025, targeting up to three 10,000-foot horizontal wells from the SS2 well pad, subject to final joint venture approval.
• Once completed, the five wells on the SS2 pad are planned to be tied into the Sturt Plateau Compression Facility (SPCF) to feed into the 40 MMcf/d Gas Sales Agreement with the Northern Territory Government. Production remains on track to commence in mid-2026, subject to standard regulatory and stakeholder approvals and favourable weather conditions.

Source: Tamboran Resources Website

Empire Energy Group Limited (“Empire” or “the Company”) (ABN 29 002 148 361) is pleased to advise a new Company name and ASX Code.

At the 2025 Annual General Meeting held on 29 May 2025, a special resolution was passed by Shareholders to change the name of the Company to Beetaloo Energy Australia Limited.

The change of name process is now complete.

The change of name will take effect on the ASX from commencement of trading on Wednesday 18^th June 2025 at which time the ASX code will migrate from EEG to BTL.

In accordance with ASX Listing Rule 15.4, shareholder approval will be sought at the General Meeting to be held in July 2025 on a date to be announced to update the Company’s Constitution for the change of name.

There will be no change to the Company’s ABN.

The Company will migrate to a new website beetalooenergy.com in the coming days.

Source: Beetaloo Energy Australia

The Finocchiaro CLP Government is injecting $3.9 million into NT resource exploration, awarding 38 grants to 30 companies through the latest Geophysics and Drilling Collaborations (GDC) program.

Round 18 of the program is supporting 38 projects through the $9.5 million Resourcing the Territory initiative, which accelerates exploration, discovery and local jobs.

Minister for Mining and Energy Gerard Maley said the grants demonstrate the Territory Government’s strong commitment to rebuilding the economy through responsible resource development.

The Territory’s value of mineral production in 2023/24 was $4.32 billion.

The mining sector forms the greatest contributor to the Territory’s own-sourced revenue from eight operating mines, and millions of dollars spent annually on mineral exploration.

“This flagship program gives companies a clear incentive to invest in exploration here in the Territory, rather than interstate,” said Mr Maley.

“It also rewards those willing to innovate and test new techniques to unlock the Territory’s vast mineral potential and bring forward the next wave of discoveries.”

The successful applicants include 14 greenfields drilling programs, 6 brownfields diamond drilling programs, 10 regional geophysical surveys, 7 innovative targeting projects, and one project under the advancing critical minerals category.

Eleven of the successful companies have never received co-funding before.

More than half of the co-funded projects are targeting critical minerals, including copper, rare earth elements, lithium, and fluorite, which places the Territory in a strong position to support the global transition to low-emissions economy through green technology.

“It’s encouraging to see the majority of these co-funded programs focusing on the critical minerals that are essential to the global energy transition,” said Mr Maley.

“These projects will help build the Territory’s critical minerals pipeline, support local jobs, and drive long-term economic growth.”

Nine of the co-funded projects will provide work for locally based contractors providing services such as earthworks, drilling, and laboratory analysis, with approximately $88,900 awarded for the Territory Supplier Incentive (TSI) funding.

The Territory Suppler Incentive provides up to $10,000 per project in additional funding to support service and supply by Territory-based companies.

Copper was the most commonly targeted commodity, featuring in nearly one-third of successful applications.

Other projects are targeting gold, uranium, diamonds and hydrocarbons, highlighting the diverse resource potential of the Territory.

The Fraser Institute’s Annual Survey of Mining Companies consistently ranks the Northern Territory among the world’s top jurisdictions for mineral potential, something the Finocchiaro CLP Government is actively working to leverage for the benefit of all Territorians.

“We are committed to making the Northern Territory the best place in Australia for exploration, private investment, and job creation,” said Mr Maley.

More information and the full list of successful grant recipients is available at: https://resourcingtheterritory.nt.gov.au/exploration-grants.

Source: Northern Territory Government Newsroom

At the 2025 Decommissioning & Abandonment (D&A) Conference in Perth, Shane McWhinney from the Department of Industry, Science and Resources (DISR) provided a significant update on the Commonwealth-managed decommissioning of the Northern Endeavour FPSO.

Power was successfully restored to the vessel on Tuesday evening, ending a seven-week outage that began on 22 April—just days after the completion of a major riser cutting campaign. The unexpected shutdown was caused by simultaneous issues: planned maintenance on the main generators and a failure of the emergency diesel generator.

“We were feeling pretty confident after the riser campaign—then just days later, the power went completely out,” McWhinney said. “But we got it back on. It took seven weeks, and now we’re back in action.”

Despite the loss of power and the need to evacuate the vessel, DISR was able to maintain momentum by continuing hull cleaning operations during the outage. This was made possible after securing a new safety case from NOPSEMA, the national offshore energy regulator.

Now with power restored, the project is entering a critical phase. The team is only months away from cutting the mooring chains that currently secure the FPSO in place. Once detached, the vessel will be towed to Singapore, selected as the safest and most cost-effective location to complete hull cleaning and seaworthiness preparation, using both wet and dry docks.

Following this, the FPSO will be loaded onto a Costco heavy-lift vessel and transported to its final decommissioning site—still to be confirmed.

As the dismantling phase progresses, the focus will shift to seabed remediation, involving the cleanup and safe abandonment of extensive subsea infrastructure. According to McWhinney, there are:

• 9 subsea wells

• 7 Christmas trees

• 50 km of flowlines

• 20 km of umbilicals

• 3 subsea manifolds

• 9 mooring chains in 3 groups

• 9 suction pile anchors

This major decommissioning project, triggered by the 2020 collapse of Northern Oil & Gas Australia (NOGA), is being closely watched across the industry for its regulatory, environmental, and cost implications. The restoration of power marks a major step forward toward finalising this complex and high-profile operation.

Source: Energy News Bulletin