Industry News

Minister Paul Kirby's Office

Consent to commission means AGI Tanami can now test the pipeline by introducing gas at the pressure under which it will operate. Once testing is successfully completed and independently verified, the pipeline will be able to go into full operational mode.

The Tanami Gas Pipeline will provide gas to Newmont’s Granites gold mine located approximately 550km north-west of Alice Springs in the Tanami Desert. Historically the mining operations have had to rely on diesel to operate, which meant a pause in production if roads became impassable and diesel could not get through.

Quotes from the Minister for Primary Industry and Resources, Paul Kirby:

“The Territory Labor Government supports the delivery of job-creating infrastructure, so I am pleased to approve the next stage of works for the Tanami Gas Pipeline.

“Newmont’s Territory mining operations are some of the most successful gold operations in Australia. This pipeline will provide year-round, cleaner power – supporting existing jobs and creating the potential for more jobs.

“The Territory Labor Government will continue to focus on attracting private sector investment across the Territory, and on getting job-creating projects out of the ground as quickly as possible.

Media Contact: Leanne Hudson 0427 687 079

Office of Minister Paul Kirby

The program for the Territory’s premier exploration event has been released, and this year’s Annual Geoscience Exploration Seminar (AGES) includes nine companies presenting on their successful exploration programs in the Territory. 

AGES, which takes place in Alice Springs, promotes the growth of our job-creating resources sector by bringing together people from across the industry to share their expert knowledge, network, and learn about the very latest technology and discoveries in the Territory’s resources exploration.

Highlights of the program include:

• Presentations on new findings and data from the NT Government’s record four-year, $26 million Resourcing the Territory exploration initiative

• Discussions on data from major collaborative programs between the NT Geological Survey, Geoscience Australia and CSIRO

• The latest updates on promising new base metal discoveries in the Aileron Province and the developing lithium deposits of the Bynoe field

• Presentations on the geology and oil and gas potential of the Amadeus Basin

• New insights into gold mineralisation and exploration success from the NT’s three main gold provinces

• A pre-conference showcase by Geoscience Australia on new datasets acquired over the Tennant Creek-Mount Isa region as part of the Exploring for the Future program.

AGES also incorporates the Mining Services Expo, which showcases NT businesses and promotes Territory local contractors. The event will take place at the Alice Springs Convention Centre on 19-20 March, 2019. To find out more visit www.ages.nt.gov.au

Quotes from Minister for Primary Industry and Resources, Paul Kirby:

“Our Government knows Territorians want safe, well-paid, local jobs. By supporting a strong and well-regulated resources sector, including through events like AGES, our Government is focused on delivering those jobs for Territorians.

“We have invested record funding into the resources exploration sector – $26 million over four years through our Resourcing the Territory initiative – creating more jobs for Territorians and more work for Territory businesses.

“This year’s AGES will provide the most up-to-date information on the Territory’s resources potential to investors and explorers, demonstrating why the Territory is a great place to invest and do business.

“AGES is also a chance for industry to hear about resources success stories, and the program this year includes presentations on successful findings in a range of commodities, including gold, lithium, cobalt, copper, oil and gas.

“Territory businesses that service the mining sector benefit from AGES too, as the Mining Services Expo runs alongside the main event, allowing them to showcase their capabilities to explorers and miners.”

Media Contact: Leanne Hudson 0427 687 079

New Minister for Primary Industries and Resources appointed

Minister Paul Kirby was appointed the new Minister for Primary Industries and Resources by the Chief Minister on 31 January this year.

The Chief Minister said Minister Kirby has years of experience working with the oil and gas industry and has worked closely with Territory businesses since being elected to the Northern Territory Parliament in 2016.

The Chief Minister also announced that he would assume the Business and Innovation portfolio.

To view the full media release regarding the new Northern Territory Government Ministry please visit  http://www.newsroom.nt.gov.au/mediaRelease/28641

More information

To read the Implementation Plan or access additional information, please visit hydraulicfracturing.nt.gov.au

To read the Inquiry report and recommendations, please visit frackinginquiry.nt.gov.au

Or you can contact the Hydraulic Fracturing Inquiry Implementation Taskforce at hydraulic.fracturing@nt.gov.au

Looking for an interesting perspective on the gas vs renewables debate? Grab a cuppa and read more at The Conversation.

THE Australian Gas Infrastructure Group’s CEO Ben Wilson told Energy News he views hydrogen as a rare bright spot of bipartisan energy policy, with both the Opposition Labor and Coalition government supporting the development of a hydrogen industry in Australia. 

Wilson welcomed Labor's announcement yesterday of $1.14 billion for development of a broad hydrogen industry, with $1 billion going to the Clean Energy Finance Corporation.  

"We very much see this as a national strategy and welcome the momentum it brings," he said. 

"We're very keen on hydrogen as a business, and COAG (the Council of Australian Governments) has been very supportive."  

"I really see hydrogen as a candidate for bipartisan support," he said.  

Last year the government announced $50 million of funding to a brown coal-to-hydrogen project in Victoria led by Kawasaki Heavy Industries worth an ultimate $498 million that aims to develop hydrogen that can be liquefied and shipped to Japan.  

The CO2 left over from the conversion process would then be injected deep underground in a carbon capture and storage process.  

Aside from mentions of ‘renewable' and clean industries and some funding for electrolysers Labor hasn't suggested whether its hydrogen will be ‘green' - made from water split into its parts via solar powered electrolysers - or ‘blue' - made from methane or coal and subject to disapproval from some environmentalists.  

It also hasn't made a statement on the Victorian La Trobe Valley project.  

Echoing the national energy guarantee proposed by then-energy minister Josh Frydenberg Wilson said "a technology neutral approach" to hydrogen was needed. 

"We need emissions targets with affordability and I don't think we should be picking winners. 

"We're very excited about green hydrogen but if you can produce it with carbon capture and storage then why not, if it's viable and can be successful and supports jobs in the La Trobe Valley."

Source: Energy News Bulletin

Read more here.

LABOR’S National Hydrogen Plan hopes to make Australia a world leader “in the burgeoning hydrogen industry – boosting jobs, exports, fuel security and reducing pollution in our energy, transport and industrial sectors”, the party said today in a pre-election pitch to Queensland voters.

Announced by a hi-vis-clad Bill Shorten, the plan has been roundly applauded by both the petroleum industry's lobby body, APPEA, and some environmental groups that have been critical of projects that link coal and hydrogen.  

The $1.14 billion plan is wide ranging and will use existing LNG infrastructure in Gladstone, with plans to shore up transport and export, provide cleaner energy, and possibly up to 16,000 jobs.  

If it wins the as-yet undeclared election Labor plans to invest $3 million to establish the National Hydrogen Innovation Hub in Gladstone. 

Labor cites an International Energy Agency figure of a global hydrogen market worth US$215 billion by 2022.  

Hydrogen is not naturally occurring on Earth, it has be made from something, and there are two types.  

‘Blue' hydrogen is made from coal, or methane, the latter via a steam methane reforming process already used widely in the US. Hydrogen made from coal creates more carbon dioxide, which must then be dealt with via carbon capture and storage in order to ameliorate emissions.   

Green hydrogen uses electrolysers - which are still expensive equipment - fuelled by renewable power to split water into its component parts.  

"From transforming transport, to providing secure, affordable and clean energy for industry, the potential of an Australian hydrogen industry is massive," Labor's one page outline said.  

Source: Energy News Bulletin

Read more here.

Energy Club NT has joined the Top End Pathways in Technology (P-TECH) Partnership to help develop the NT Energy industry’s future workforce. 

The P-TECH model enables industry, education and community to collaborate to provide students with industry-supported pathways to STEM related qualifications and local employment opportunities. 

There are 14 partnerships involved in the Government-funded P-TECH Australia Pilot, and Top End is the only partnership in the Northern Territory.

Top End P-TECH focuses on building Casuarina Senior College students’ STEM and job-ready general skills to prepare them for the jobs of the future in the Energy, and Defence Maritime Sustainment industries.

Energy Club NT joins Norship Marine, Austal, Thales, Royal Australian Navy, Territory Generation and NT Power Water Corporation as an industry partner.

Energy Club NT CEO, Sonia Harvey, says Top End PTECH is a “fantastic opportunity” to connect with local students to promote the extensive career opportunities in the region’s Energy industry.

“It’s essential that we engage students early to ensure these career pathways can be explored,” Harvey says. “Providing Territory jobs for Territory students will help to support existing businesses and new opportunities to come as the industry continues to develop in our region. There is no longer the need to leave the Northern Territory to have access to world class, innovative careers in the Energy industry.” 

Energy Club NT encourages members to get involved with Top End P-TECH Partnership. If you are interested in working with local students to provide mentoring and create engaging projects, please get in touch via email (info@energyclubnt.com.au) to discuss opportunities.

To learn more about P-TECH, visit: www.ptech.org.au/topend-p-tech-partnership/. 

THE FALCON Oil & Gas (30%) and Origin Energy (70%) joint venture have accelerated plans for the second stage of its upcoming exploration and appraisal program in the Beetaloo sub-Basin, signing a rig contract with Ensign Australia and outlining activities for the next 12 months.

The Beetaloo is considered one of the most prospective parts of the Northern Territory and now the Top End has lifted its fraccing moratorium, albeit with 135 conditions, Origin and Irish partner Falcon have committed to conducting the appraisal program over the coming months and have already begun work at some well sites including water bore drilling and water monitoring.  

The drilling program will include two horizontal wells and one vertical well, the first of which will spud in June.  

The Stage 2 Cost Cap is approximately A$65m for the exploration and appraisal program, including the drilling and hydraulic fracture stimulation costs of the two horizontal wells. 

The focus will be on the liquids-rich Kyalla Formation and Velkerri Shale. Together with the Velkerri B dry gas play discovered in 2016, this allows for the assessment of three plays, enabling the most commercially prospective play to be targeted for Stage 3 drilling next year.  

Falcon CEO Phillip O'Quigley said the announcement was an exciting development for shareholders.  

"We look forward to updating the market as work progresses over the coming months," he said. 

Source: Energy News Bulletin

Read more here.

Dale Wakefield, Member for Braitling 

The Territory Labor Government has granted a mineral lease for a new lithium mine that has the capacity to create up to 150 jobs during construction and 90 during operation.

The project, located around 36km from Berry Springs and 90km from Darwin by road, is being developed by Lithium Developments (Grants NT) Pty Ltd, of Core Lithium Ltd.

Lithium is a vital ingredient in lithium-ion battery technology, used in electric vehicles and energy storage, and the present boom in demand for the resource is expected to continue.

No chemicals are required to turn lithium ore into concentrate, which will be processed at the site then shipped by road to Darwin Port for export.

Quotes from Acting Minister for Primary Industry and Resources, Dale Wakefield:

“Creating jobs is the number one priority of this Government and this is an important milestone for this project.

“If it successfully goes through the rest of the approvals process, this mine could not only provide direct jobs for Territorians on site, but also flow-on effects for Territory businesses through contracts and tenders.”

Quote from Core Lithium Managing Director, Stephen Biggins:

“We are grateful for the strong support of the NT Government in enabling us to be part of a bright new future in the development of the renewable energy industry chain for the Northern Territory.”

Media Contact: Leanne Hudson 0427 687 079

TIMOR-Leste president Francisco Guterres has approved use of the nation’s sovereign wealth fund – earned from petroleum revenues – for a US$650 million purchase of ConocoPhillips’ and Shell’s shares of the Greater Sunrise gas project. 

The president earlier vetoed the bill allowing the use of the fund, suggesting the monies could be misused, and suggested the proposal would have to first be revised, however having won the approval of parliament Guterres was forced to ratify the unaltered terms.  

Reuters says the decree removes the 20% ceiling on state participation in hydrocarbon projects and will allow Greater Sunrise and other projects "to bypass approvals by parliament in future".  

The tiny nation moved first on ConocoPhillips, and then Shell, last year to take their interests in the long-stalled development. 

That has increased the nation's share of the project to over 56%, making it the majority stakeholder over operator Woodside Petroleum and giving it leverage to push for its preferred development concept of an LNG plant onshore Timor-Leste, rather than Woodside's plan of sending the gas to Darwin.  

A permanent maritime boundary with Australia was agreed between the two nations' foreign ministers in April.  

The terms of the production sharing contract would see the small nation take 70% of revenue should the gas be sent to its shores and 80% if the plant is developed in Australia. 

Source: Energy News Bulletin

Read more here.