Industry News

Top End Energy Limited (Top End or the Company) (ASX:TEE) advises of preliminary outcomes from the detailed geophysical and geological evaluation undertaken on its recently acquired Exploration Permit (EP) 144 (the Permit), which is located in the South Nicholson Basin area of the Northern Territory (NT) of Australia.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Significant gas play fairway (up to ~3,500 km2) has been identified on EP 144 based on offset drilling and seismic interpretation. 
• NDI Carrara-1 deep stratigraphic well (3.5km East of EP144 boundary) intercepted multiple source rock intervals with total organic carbon (TOC) sampled up to 5.5%. 
• Permit located proximate to the Northern Gas Pipeline, providing access to Mt Isa and the East Coast gas market. 
• NDI Carrara-1 well also suggests localised presence of Hydrogen and Helium, with high Hydrogen concentration samples of up to 27% (air-corrected) acquired. 
• Top End holds a 100% interest in EP144, which is the only granted permit in the South Nicholson basin in the Northern Territory. 
• Low-cost near-term work program designed to prove presence of source rocks on EP 144 and acquire samples of Helium and Hydrogen. 

Commenting on the growing potential of the EP 144 acreage in the South Nicholson Basin, Managing Director Oliver Oxenbridge said:

“Our initial work on the potential of EP 144 has delivered exciting outcomes. Our interpretation of the GA seismic lines indicates high probability of key source rock formations extending well into our acreage. When overlaid with the results from the Carrara-1 stratigraphic well, the potential for a highly prospective unconventional gas play fairway on EP 144 is readily evident. This is complemented further by Helium and Hydrogen potential also indicated across the basin. We now plan to refine our near-term work program for EP 144, which is expected to include further geophysical analysis, soil gas sampling, and targeted stratigraphic drilling.”

All results and figures can be found through the Top End Energy ASX Announcements page.

Top End Energy Limited (Top End or the Company) (ASX:TEE) is pleased to announce completion of the transaction to acquire granted Northern Territory (NT) acreage from wholly owned subsidiaries of Hancock Prospecting Limited (Hancock), first announced on 27 February 2024 (the Transaction).

TRANSACTION AND COMPLETION

On 27 February 2024, the Company announced the execution of a binding term sheet to acquire NT Exploration Permits (EP) 144, 153 and 154 (the Permits) from Minerals Australia Pty Ltd and Jacaranda Minerals Limited, wholly owned subsidiaries of Hancock (together, the Vendors). On 14 May 2024, the Company announced that it had entered into a full form Sale and Purchase Agreement (SPA) with the Vendors.

On 31 May 2024, the Company and the Vendors received the consent of the Northern Land Council to the transfer of the titles pursuant to the terms of the existing Co-existence and Exploration Deeds with the Traditional Owners of the Permits.

On 2 July 2024, the Company announced that the parties had received approval for the acquisition of the granted NT acreage in the SPA from the delegate of the Minister of Mining under section 96 of the Petroleum Act 1984. Following satisfaction of all conditions, the parties have now completed the Transaction in accordance with the SPA.

Commenting on completion of the Transaction, Managing Director Oliver Oxenbridge said:

“We are delighted to have completed the transaction, having received key stakeholder approvals in relatively short order. Having reached this point, we now turn our attention to executing work programs and maturing the significant prospectivity that we see in the permits. The acquisition of this acreage, in addition to the recent Ministerial grant of EP 258, finally allows Top End to commence on ground activities in the NT and address multiple high impact opportunities for discovering natural gas, Hydrogen and Helium.

Pending completion, we have kept busy refining identified play fairways and preparing for near-term activities – we are excited to provide investors with more information in the coming weeks on the material potential we see in the permits and next steps for unlocking it.”

Source: Top End Energy ASX Announcements

Australian green hydrogen firm Climate Impact Corporation (CIC) is to develop two 10GW green hydrogen projects in central Australia, using renewable hydrogen production modular technology developed in partnership with GE Vernova.

CIC chairman and co-founder David Green said its processes would unlock inland hydrogen production opportunities in solar-rich NT and SA.

CIC's David Green

"Renewable hydrogen production requires a significant amount of energy and water, which aren't often found together in places like Australia," he said.

He said the company is solving the challenge with solar power and atmospheric water generation technology.

"It's an approach that solves one of the biggest challenges Australia has faced in becoming a renewable hydrogen superpower, and we're excited to bring it to market first," he said.

CIC's 10GW projects would be by far the largest renewable hydrogen ventures developed in Australia to date. Having secured offtake buyers, the project is now considered commercially viable.

Traditional renewable hydrogen production requires large quantities of water and grid-provided electricity. 

CIC's modular hydrogen production units operate off-grid and consist of solar panels, atmospheric water generators, electrolysers, and the necessary infrastructure to produce hydrogen in insolation.

The use of atmospheric water allows hydrogen to be produced anywhere there is abundant solar radiation, opening new locations in arid central Australia. 

CIC's H2 production process video 

No water, no problem

"The demand for dependable, sustainable, and affordable renewable fuels in the Asia-Pacific is growing, and Australia is perfectly placed to become a regional hydrogen superpower to meet that need," Green added. 

"But that means we need to invest in technology that maximises Australia's advantages and come up with creative solutions to challenges like water scarcity without a huge financial burden being placed on governments and communities. 

"Modular, off-grid hydrogen is based on proven technology and has enormous potential to meet Australia and the region's renewable fuel needs."

The first test modules are expected to begin production as soon as later this year. 

Source: Energy News Bulletin 

Wood Group, the global consulting and engineering firm, has secured a six-year contract to provide brownfield engineering, procurement, and construction management (EPCM) solutions for Shell's Prelude Floating Liquified Natural Gas (FLNG) facility in Western Australia.

Ken Gilmartin, CEO at Wood said "LNG is a key transition fuel as industry balances the need for global energy security with the importance of urgent reduction in carbon emissions.

"We're delighted to build on our 70-year global relationship with Shell to deliver integrated brownfield engineering solutions for Prelude, the world's largest floating offshore gas facility.

"The contract will draw on our global LNG expertise and underlines our position as a market leader for brownfield engineering across Australia," Gilmartin said.

Shares in the firm rallied on Tuesday when the announcement was made to the London Stock Exchange, opening at GBP195.50 per share, up slightly on the close the previous evening.

Adam Cheeseman, Wood's SVP Australia West, added: "Delivered by our teams in Perth and Darwin, this win is a testament to the strength of our client relationship, our track record of successful industrial relations and our unique capabilities in construction management.

"Securing this major contract means we are now the only company providing brownfield engineering support to every major O&G operator in Western Australia – something we are tremendously proud of," Cheesman said.

The contract starts this month.

Source: Energy News Bulletin

The Lawler Labor Government is continuing to invest in battery storage to ensure more Territorians can get the benefits from renewable energy.

The Territory Government’s Power and Water Corporation has secured conditional support from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency for 16 community batteries, which will be located in various locations on the Darwin-Katherine electricity grid.

Once online, the batteries are expected to have a significant impact on local network constraints and will expand rooftop solar capacity, reduce emissions and keep power prices as affordable as possible.

The $6.1 million Wurrumiyanga Solar Farm project is also a step closer to having battery storage. Testing of the battery which was undertaken at Berrimah is now complete.

This project will provide an additional 1.1 megawatt solar array, together with a 1.75 MVA battery energy storage system.

The project is estimated to reduce diesel fuel consumption by 519,000 litres in the first year of operation by introducing additional renewable energy technology.

The battery has been prepared for transport to Wurrumiyanga, where work will begin to connect the battery to the solar farm in the coming months.

The testing for the battery included simulating the complete loss of the solar array to ensure the battery can cover the loss of the renewable supply.

Work on the Remote Power System Strategy, which will deliver an average of 70 per cent renewable energy to 72 remote communities provided with electricity through the Indigenous Essential Services program is continuing.

In Budget 2024, the Lawler Labor Government invested $3.1 million for preparatory works for the rollout of more solar and batteries in remote communities, including detailed technical analysis. The RPSS will reduce the reliance of diesel generators in regional and remote communities

Consultation has begun with Indigenous Essential Services community representative bodies including the Northern, Central, Tiwi and Anindilyakwa Land Councils along with 10 regional councils.

The feedback received during the consultation process will be incorporated into a detailed business case in the coming months.

Source: Northern Territory Newsroom

Unlike her predecessors, who tip-toed around with gas, Territory Labor leader and chief minister Eva Lawler is embracing the product and the sector.

Famously, Michael Gunner announced a fracking moratorium pending the results of an inquiry into the process before Labor won the 2016 NT election, just months after the previous CLP Government had delivered its own report green-lighting fracking in the Beetaloo Basin.

Michael Gunner’s successor, Natasha Fyles, refused to publicly support Santos’ Barossa gas project and under her watch the word ‘petroleum’ was removed from a website promoting the Middle Arm sustainable development precinct.

Australian Energy Producers NT director David Slama and chief minister Eva Lawler.

Ms Lawler is far less squeamish, talking up the gas industry at every opportunity in the knowledge that without development of the Territory’s significant onshore and offshore gas resources, the social issues that divide our community will never change.

In the process, she put taxpayer’s money where her mouth is, signing-up the Territory to a 15-year gas sales agreement with Tamboran Resources to supply almost two-thirds of the Territory’s gas requirements from its Beetaloo Basin field.

Unlike her predecessors, Ms Lawler also condemned the judicial delays to Santos’ Barossa gas project and she censured the Environmental Defender’s Office, which had contributed to the delays.

The Territory Government believes Middle Arm is a nation-building project designed to maximise the Territory’s gas bounty, centred around the Beetaloo, about 500km south of Darwin.

Encouraging diverse investment in a sustainable industrial precinct using common user principles will decrease initial capital costs, de-risk private sector investment and provide clear pathways to secure regulatory approvals.

The government wants Middle Arm to become a globally competitive energy hub supporting up to 20,000 Territory jobs, focused on future industries including critical minerals battery processing, renewables, carbon capture and low-emission energy and fuels including LNG.

As well as underwriting Middle Arm with $1.5bn equity, the Commonwealth has contributed $440m to develop regional logistics hubs in Tennant Creek and Katherine with common user infrastructure to improve the Territory’s rail efficiency and capacity.

To further value-add the Territory’s resources bounty, the government is investigating developing an infrastructure corridor from Tennant Creek to Darwin that would support future development of emerging industries.

A prefeasibility study found that the corridor could potentially include infrastructure assets including a gas pipeline, a natural gas liquids pipeline, an oil pipeline, hydrogen pipeline, utility and services including water, electricity and other mains and communications including fibre optic.

Source: NT News

Rio Tinto is installing two new solar farms to secure sustainable energy for its bauxite mine on the Gove Peninsula in the Northern Territory.

Once the two 5.25-megawatt solar farms are operational, they will reduce the power station's diesel consumption by about 20%, or 4.5 million litres a year.

The mining giant also expects the project to reduce its annual carbon emissions by over 12,000 tonnes, which is equivalent to removing 2,800 cars from the road.

Rio Tinto Gove operations acting general manager Shannon Price said: "The Gove solar project is part of our shared vision with Traditional Owners to leave a positive legacy for the Gove Peninsula communities after bauxite mining ceases.

"We're working in partnership with the NT government and Traditional Owners to ensure a smooth transition of leased land and town assets and infrastructure as Rio Tinto prepares to stop mining at Gove later this decade."

The new solar farms will be built on Gumatj and Rirratjingu country, the largest Traditional Owners groups who are signatories to the RTA Gove Traditional Owners Agreement.

Aggreko, an energy solutions company, has been contracted to build and operate the solar farms for Rio Tinto for up to 10 years, with completion scheduled for early next year.

Rio Tinto's Gove site in the NT has been supplying the global aluminium industry with bauxite for more than 40 years.

Gove bauxite is shipped internationally and supplies the Queensland Alumina and Yarwun refineries in Gladstone, Queensland.

These refineries produce alumina as feedstock for Rio Tinto's Australian aluminium smelting operations and for sale on the international market.

Source: Energy News Bulletin 

Government Approval for NT Acquisition Received Top End Energy Limited (Top End or the Company) (ASX:TEE) is pleased to provide an update on the acquisition of the granted Northern Territory (NT) acreage from wholly owned subsidiaries of Hancock Prospecting Limited (Hancock), first announced on 27 February 2024.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Approval for the acquisition of the granted NT acreage in the Sale and Purchase Agreement (SPA) has been received from the NT Government

• The approval represents satisfaction of the key remaining condition to completion of the transaction U

PDATE ON TRANSACTION AND PROGRESS TO COMPLETION

On 27 February 2024, the Company announced the execution of a binding term sheet to acquire NT Exploration Permits (EP) 144, 153 and 154 (the Permits) from Minerals Australia Pty Ltd and Jacaranda Minerals Limited, wholly owned subsidiaries of Hancock (together, the Vendors)(the Transaction). On 14 May 2024, the Company announced that it had entered into a full form SPA with the Vendors.

On 31 May 2024, the Company and the Vendors received the consent of the Northern Land Council to the transfer of the titles pursuant to the terms of the existing Co-existence and Exploration Deeds with the Traditional Owners of the Permits.

The Company has now also received approval for the acquisition of the granted NT acreage in the SPA from the delegate of the Minister of Mining under section 96 of the Petroleum Act 1984.

The parties will now move forward to completion of the Transaction once deeds of assignment and assumption for key existing agreements have been executed.

Source: Top End Energy 

On Thursday 20 June the Minister for Environment, Climate Change and Water Security, Hon Kate Worden MLA released the first annual progress report of the Territory Water Plan.

One year on from the release of the plan, the 2024 report details how the Northern Territory Government and partner organisations like Power and Water are tracking on implementing 16 priority actions, which aim to set the foundations for a water secure future for the Northern Territory (NT).

Over the last 12 months work has started on all priority actions and the majority of the commitments within these actions are on track to be delivered.

Some key achievements include:

• NT Health has started drafting the Safe Drinking Water Bill.
• A water reform taskforce has been set up and a program for water reform has been published identifying 4 phases for developing a new Water Act by 2026.
• Power and Water is on track to start construction to return Manton Dam to service by 2026.
• Over $84 million in funding has been committed by both NT Government and Australian Government on 8 new National Water Grid Fund projects to give NT communities better access to clean, safe and reliable water.
• Power and Water and Clean TeQ Water won the Infrastructure Project Innovation Regional Award for the Laramba Water Treatment Plant at the 2024 Australian Water Awards.
• The Territory Water Plan was nominated for the Organisational Excellence Award after winning this category at the NT Water Awards.
• A cross-agency remote water team has been established to develop a community engagement program to share information about water supplies, water quality, water security and infrastructure investment in remote Aboriginal communities.
• The Office of Water Security has continued to lead and coordinate water programs and priorities across the NT Government. This includes coordination with the Australian Government on national water reform.

 Territory water plan annual progress report 2024 PDF (1.5 MB).

Source: Northern Territory Government: Department of Environment, Parks and Water Security.

The Territory Labor Government is continuing to invest in securing our electricity grid to make sure Territorians have reliable power supply.

Territory Generation is embarking on a project to integrate new infrastructure to support the Darwin to Katherine electricity system to take on more renewable energy.

The synchronous condenser projects will further assist in stabilising the grid as more renewable energy is generated and deliver Essential System Services currently provided by existing rotating generators.

Territory Generation has commenced detailed design and engineering works to convert one of its Channel Island Power Station Frame 6B gas turbine generators to operate as a synchronous condenser.

The synchronous condenser complements Territory Generation’s big battery, the 35 MVA DK BESS and the recently announced DK BESS 2 to increase stability of the power system.

This investment in the electricity grid is designed to enable further uptake of renewable energy.

The project has been developed in consultation with Northern Territory Government stakeholders to align with the Immediate Investment Plan.

Source: Northern Territory Newsroom